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¹Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093.

|February 27, 1992

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Closely related warbler species adapt to different ecological niches, showing that behavioral and morphological differences are driven by adaptation, not just shared ancestry. This research clarifies evolutionary patterns in sympatric species.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Ornithology

Background:

Sympatric species in the same ecological guild often exhibit behavioral and morphological differences, typically attributed to resource partitioning.
Distinguishing adaptive divergence from shared ancestry (phylogenetic legacy) is challenging due to potential similarities inherited from common ancestors.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of adaptive evolution versus phylogenetic legacy in shaping the ecological and morphological variation among eight sympatric warbler species (genus Phylloscopus).
To test whether ecological niche divergence (habitat selection, prey size, feeding method) is associated with morphological variation after accounting for evolutionary history.

Main Methods:

Phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial DNA sequences for eight sympatric Phylloscopus warbler species.
Statistical methods to disentangle the effects of adaptive divergence from phylogenetic constraints on ecological and morphological traits.

Main Results:

Adaptive interpretations of among-species variation in habitat selection, prey-size choice, and feeding method are strongly supported after removing phylogenetic effects.
Ecological variation across these niche axes correlates with predictable morphological variation.
Phylogenetic legacy is evident, with more closely related species showing greater behavioral and morphological similarity, primarily due to divergence in habitat choice.

Conclusions:

Warbler species diversification is shaped by both adaptive ecological divergence and historical phylogenetic constraints.
While habitat selection shows ongoing divergence, prey-size choice and feeding methods evolved rapidly early in the group's diversification, with subsequent limited morphological change.
The interplay between rapid early evolution and later niche specialization explains the observed patterns of similarity and difference in closely related warbler species.