Sex and morph differences in age‐dependent trait changes in a polymorphic songbird

There is growing evidence of important variation in how animals age, in particular in how the expression of traits changes with age among different species and populations.  However, less is known about variation within populations, which may include variation in ageing patterns between different types of individuals (e.g., sexes or distinct polymorphisms) and between different types of traits (e.g., general traits versus those used in social signalling contexts). We used six years of longitudinal data to examine age-related changes in trait expression in a captive population of Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae), a socially monogamous songbird with genetically determined colour morphs that differ in behaviour and physiology. We contrasted ageing patterns of different types of traits (social signalling versus size-related) in both sexes and in two colour morphs, using a mixed model approach to account for both within- and between-individual effects. We found pronounced sex diffe..., , , # Data from: Sex and morph differences in age‐dependent trait changes in a polymorphic songbird

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.xwdbrv1f1](10.5061/dryad.xwdbrv1f1)

## Description of the data and file structure

This paper was based on longitudinal data, including several morphological traits from seven years of a large, captive population of Gouldian finches (*Erythrura gouldiae*) that were part of a series of research projects. 

### Files and variables

#### File: GouldianAgeDryad.csv

**Description:** raw data used for analysis - contains every measurement for each individual. Missing values denoted with NAs

##### Variables

* ID - band number - unique identifier
* XGenotype - the colour genotype - important for head colour - 
* LastAge - age at last banding
* AgeSQ - age squared for quadratic effects
* Date - date measured
* Year - year measured
* PSex - phenotypic sex
* PMorph - phenotypic head morph
* Tarsus - length of tarsus in mm
* Beak - length of beak in mm
* Wing - length of ...,