posted on 2023-05-18, 22:34authored bySeddon, N, Botero, CA, Tobias, JA, Dunn, PO, MacGregor, HEA, Rubenstein, DR, Uy, AC, Weir, JT, Whittingham, LA, Safran, RJ
Sexual selection is proposed to be an important driver of diversification in animal systems, yet previous tests of this hypothesis have produced mixed results and the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we use a novel phylogenetic approach to assess the influence of sexual selection on patterns of evolutionary change during 84 recent speciation events across 23 passerine bird families. We show that elevated levels of sexual selection are associated with more rapid phenotypic divergence between related lineages, and that this effect is restricted to male plumage traits proposed to function in mate choice and species recognition. Conversely, we found no evidence that sexual selection promoted divergence in female plumage traits, or in male traits related to foraging and locomotion. These results provide strong evidence that female choice and male–male competition are dominant mechanisms driving divergence during speciation in birds, potentially linking sexual selection to the accelerated evolution of pre-mating reproductive isolation.
History
Publication title
Royal Society of London. Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Volume
280
Issue
1766
Article number
20131065
Number
20131065
Pagination
1-9
ISSN
0962-8452
Department/School
School of Natural Sciences
Publisher
Royal Soc London
Place of publication
6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5Ag
Rights statement
Copyright 2013 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/