Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Evolution

Publication Date

6-2024

Keywords

house wren, multivariate selection analysis, sexual selection, song structure, Troglodytes aedon

Abstract

Bird song is a classic example of a sexually selected trait, but much of the work relating individual song components to fitness has not accounted for song typically being composed of multiple, often-correlated components, necessitating a multivariate approach. We explored the role of sexual selection in shaping the complex male song of house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) by simultaneously relating its multiple components to fitness using multivariate selection analysis, which is widely used in insect and anuran studies but not in birds. The analysis revealed significant variation in the form and strength of selection acting on song across different selection episodes, from nest-site defense to recruitment of offspring to the breeding population. Males that sang more song typically employed in close communication sired more offspring that were subsequently recruited to the breeding population than those that sang more far-communication song. However, this relationship was not consistent across earlier selection episodes, as evidenced by non-linear selection acting on these song components in other contexts. Collectively, our results present a complex picture of multivariate selection on male song structure that would not be evident using univariate approaches and suggest possible trade-offs within and among song components at different points of the breeding season.

Funding Source

Funding was provided by the National Institutes of Health (2R15HD076308), American Ornithological Society, Wilson Ornithological Society, Animal Behavior Society, Illinois Ornithological Society, Beta Lambda chapter of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society, Champaign County Audubon Society, and Illinois State University Dissertation Completion Grant, Faculty Research Award, Robert H. Gray Biology/Ecology Scholarship, BIRDFeeder Grant, Charlena Wallen Scholarship, and Illinois State University Foundation Bird Study and Student Fellowship Fund (4125104). J.H. was funded by an ARC Discovery Project (DP220103291).

Comments

This is the accepted manuscript of an article first published in Evolution (2024): https://doi.org/10.1093/evolut/qpae036

DOI

10.1093/evolut/qpae036

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