Faster evolution of a premating reproductive barrier is not associated with faster speciation rates in New World passerine birds.

ABSTRACT: Why are speciation rates so variable across the tree of life? One hypothesis is that this variation is explained by how rapidly reproductive barriers evolve. We tested this hypothesis by conducting a comparative study of the evolution of bird song, a premating barrier to reproduction. Speciation in birds is typically initiated when geographically isolated (allopatric) populations evolve reproductive barriers. We measured the strength of song as a premating barrier between closely related allopatric populations by conducting 2339 field experiments to measure song discrimination for 175 taxon pairs of allopatric or parapatric New World passerine birds, and estimated recent speciation rates from molecular phylogenies. We found evidence that song discrimination is indeed an important reproduct

SUBMITTER: Freeman BG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8727149 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature