Coevolution of vocal signal characteristics and hearing sensitivity in forest mammals.

ABSTRACT: Although signal characteristics and sensory systems are predicted to co-evolve according to environmental constraints, this hypothesis has not been tested for acoustic signalling across a wide range of species, or any mammal sensory modality. Here we use phylogenetic comparative techniques to show that mammal vocal characteristics and hearing sensitivity have co-evolved to utilise higher frequencies in forest environments - opposite to the general prediction that lower frequencies should be favoured in acoustically cluttered habitats. We also reveal an evolutionary trade-off between high frequency hearing sensitivity and the production of calls with high frequency acoustic energy that suggests forest mammals further optimise vocal communication according to their high frequency hearing sen

SUBMITTER: Charlton BD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6592901 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature