Filament characteristic intrinsic total linear mass density (M_line,tot) as a function of FWHM for HBs (filled red and magenta symbols; a)) and LBs (filled blue and green symbols b)) of the core-scale filament sample. Panel c) shows the A_V−FWHM distribution for HBs. As reference, black crosses in Figs. 1a and 1b mark the position of filaments in low and high backgrounds, respectively. Panel d) is the same as a) and b), but with uncertainties included as reference. The red arrow indicates the evolutionary direction at constant ~ 0.1 pc width (e.g. Arzoumanian et al. 2011; 2013). The green arrow indicates an alternative evolutionary path leading to filaments with the same final properties and conveying similar changes as the original model, but allowing for a (conservative) change in filament width (see text). Separation according to the relative contribution of core or wing components to the filament M_line,tot is marked as follows: core dominated (blue and magenta for LBs and HBs, respectively), and wing dominated (green and red).