Document Detail


Losses of female song with changes from tropical to temperate breeding in the New World blackbirds.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19324802     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Birds in which both sexes produce complex songs are thought to be more common in the tropics than in temperate areas, where typically only males sing. Yet the role of phylogeny in this apparent relationship between female song and latitude has never been examined. Here, we reconstruct evolutionary changes in female song and breeding latitude in the New World blackbirds (Icteridae), a family with both temperate and tropical representatives. We provide strong evidence that members of this group have moved repeatedly from tropical to temperate breeding ranges and, furthermore, that these range shifts were associated with losses of female song more often than expected by chance. This historical perspective suggests that male-biased song production in many temperate species is the result not of sexual selection for complex song in males but of selection against such songs in females. Our results provide new insights into the differences we see today between tropical and temperate songbirds, and suggest that the role of sexual selection in the evolution of bird song might not be as simple as we think.
Authors:
J Jordan Price; Scott M Lanyon; Kevin E Omland
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.     Date:  2009-03-04
Journal Detail:
Title:  Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society     Volume:  276     ISSN:  0962-8452     ISO Abbreviation:  Proc. Biol. Sci.     Publication Date:  2009 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-04-24     Completed Date:  2009-08-14     Revised Date:  2010-09-23    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101245157     Medline TA:  Proc Biol Sci     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1971-80     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, St Mary's College of Maryland, St Mary's City, MD 20686, USA. jjprice@smcm.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animal Migration
Animals
Breeding*
Geography
Passeriformes / physiology*
Phylogeny
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior, Animal*
Tropical Climate
Vocalization, Animal*
Comments/Corrections

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