Ecological, genetic and geographical divergence explain differences in colouration among sunbird species (Nectariniidae).

ABSTRACT: How extravagant ornamental traits evolve is a key question in evolutionary biology. Bird plumages are among the most elaborate ornaments, displaying almost all colours of the rainbow. Why and how birds evolved to be so colourful remains an open question with multiple and sometimes competing hypotheses. Different colours in different patches (i.e. body parts) might have different functions and thus result from different forms of selection (e.g. natural vs. sexual selection). Here we test the influence of three factors on colour diversity in sunbirds: (1) geographical distance, (2) differences in light environment and (3) phylogenetic distances. We show that both natural and sexual selection affect the evolution of sunbird colouration, but that their extent and direction differs between sexe

SUBMITTER: Nicolai MPJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11387724 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature