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Multi-modal signal evolution in birds: re-examining a standard proxy for sexual selection
Christopher R Cooney1,2, Hannah E A MacGregor3,4, Nathalie Seddon3
1Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK c.cooney@sheffield.ac.uk.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|October 19, 2018
Summary
Sexual selection drives speciation, but visual traits like plumage dichromatism negatively correlate with song divergence in birds. This suggests a trade-off between visual and acoustic sexual signals in avian diversification.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ornithology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Sexual selection is a key driver of speciation and phenotypic diversification.
- Previous studies on sexual selection and diversification yielded conflicting results, possibly due to focusing on single signaling modalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between visual sexual signals (plumage dichromatism) and acoustic signal divergence in avian species.
- To test the sexual selection-diversification hypothesis across multiple signaling modalities.
Main Methods:
- Compiled phenotypic data from 259 avian sister species pairs.
- Assessed the correlation between plumage dichromatism and song trait divergence.
- Accounted for ecological and interspecific factors.
Main Results:
- A significant negative relationship was found between plumage dichromatism and song divergence.
- This finding contrasts with expectations of the sexual selection-diversification hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- A trade-off exists between the evolution of visual ornaments and acoustic mating signals.
- Understanding sexual selection's impact on diversification requires considering multiple signaling modalities.
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