Correlated evolution of distinct signals associated with increased social selection in female white-shouldered fairywrens.

ABSTRACT: Conspicuous female signals have recently received substantial scientific attention, but it remains unclear if their evolution is the result of selection acting on females independently of males or if mutual selection facilitates female change. Species that express female, but not male, phenotypic variation among populations represents a useful opportunity to address this knowledge gap. White-shouldered fairywrens (Malurus alboscapulatus) are tropical songbirds with a well-resolved phylogeny where female, but not male, coloration varies allopatrically across subspecies. We explored how four distinct signaling modalities, each putatively associated with increased social selection, are expressed in two populations that vary in competitive pressure on females. Females in a derived subsp

SUBMITTER: Jones JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8668759 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature