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Correlated evolution of distinct signals associated with increased social selection in female white-shouldered fairywrens
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  • John Jones,
  • Karan Odom,
  • Ian Hoppe,
  • Doka Nason,
  • Serena Ketaloya,
  • Jordan Karubian
John Jones
Tulane University

Corresponding Author:johnajones91@gmail.com

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Karan Odom
University of Maryland at College Park
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Ian Hoppe
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Doka Nason
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Serena Ketaloya
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Jordan Karubian
Tulane University
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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 represent 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 subspecies (M. a. moretoni) have evolved more ornamented plumage and have shorter tails (a signal of social dominance) relative to an ancestral subspecies (M. a. lorentzi) with drab females. In response to simulated territorial intrusions broadcasting female song, both sexes of M. a. moretoni are more aggressive and more coordinated with their mates in both movement and vocalizations. Finally, M. a. moretoni songs are more complex than M. a. lorentzi, but song complexity does not vary between sexes in either population. These results suggest that correlated phenotypic shifts in coloration and tail morphology in females as well as song complexity and aggression in both sexes may have occurred in response to changes in the intensity of social selection pressures. This highlights increased competitive pressures in both sexes can facilitate the evolution of complex multimodal signals.
11 Aug 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
12 Aug 2021Submission Checks Completed
12 Aug 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Aug 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
28 Oct 20211st Revision Received
29 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
29 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
29 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
Dec 2021Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 11 issue 23 on pages 17352-17363. 10.1002/ece3.8370