Male-like female morphs in hummingbirds: the evolution of a widespread sex-limited plumage polymorphism

Diamant, Eleanor S.; Falk, Jay J.; Rubenstein, Dustin R.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2020.3004

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…These limitations notwithstanding, our study does suggest that direct selection rather than cross-sex genetic correlations is as plausible explanation for the presence and maintenance of ornaments in females as in males. Overall, our synthesis of empirical research agrees with growing direct evidence in many species across taxa on the functionality and adaptive evolution of female ornaments 13,22 , as well as comparative studies suggesting that these traits can evolve independently of changes in males [91][92][93][94][95] .…”

Section: No Signi Cant Sex Differencessupporting

confidence: 82%

Ornaments are equally informative in males and females: a bivariate meta-analysis in birds

Nolazco

Delhey

Nakagawa

2021

Preprint

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Female ornaments are often reduced, male-like traits. Although these were long perceived as nonadaptive, it is now broadly accepted that female ornaments can be functional. However, it is unclear whether this is as common in females as it is in males, and whether ornaments fulfil similar signalling roles. To test this, we conduct a systematic review and apply a phylogenetically controlled bivariate meta-analysis to a large dataset of ornaments in mutually ornamented birds. As expected, female ornament expression tends to be reduced compared to males. However, ornaments are equally strongly associated with indicators of body condition and aspects of reproductive success in both sexes, regardless of the degree of sexual dimorphism. Thus, ornaments in birds provide similar information in both sexes: more ornamented individuals are in better condition and achieve higher reproductive success. Although limited by their correlational nature, these outcomes imply that female ornaments could widely function in a similar manner as male ornaments.

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Section: No Signi Cant Sex Differencessupporting

confidence: 82%

Ornaments are equally informative in males and females: a bivariate meta-analysis in birds

Nolazco

Delhey

Nakagawa

2021

Preprint

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“…Female ornamentation arising as a by‐product of selection on male traits should result in parallel trait evolution between the sexes, and exceptions provide evidence for sex‐specific selection on ornamentation (Burns 1998; Shultz and Burns 2017; Diamant et al. 2021). The White‐shouldered Fairywren of New Guinea ( Malurus alboscapulatus ; Fig.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

The evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of female ornamentation in a tropical songbird

et al. 2022

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Ornamentation, such as the showy plumage of birds, is widespread among female vertebrates, yet the evolutionary pressures shaping female ornamentation remain uncertain. In part this is due to a poor understanding of the mechanistic route to ornamentation in females. To address this issue, we evaluated the evolutionary history of ornament expression in a tropical passerine bird, the White-shouldered Fairywren, whose females, but not males, strongly vary between populations in occurrence of ornamented black-and-white plumage. We first use phylogenomic analysis to demonstrate that female ornamentation is derived and that female ornamentation evolves independently of changes in male plumage. We then use exogenous testosterone in a field experiment to induce partial ornamentation in naturally unornamented females. By sequencing the transcriptome of experimentally induced ornamented and natural feathers, we identify genes expressed during ornament production and evaluate the degree to which female ornamentation in this system is associated with elevated testosterone, as is common in males. We reveal that some ornamentation in females is linked to testosterone and that sexes differ in ornament-linked gene expression. Lastly, using genomic outlier analysis we identify a candidate melanogenesis gene that lies in a region of high genomic divergence among populations that is also differentially expressed in feather follicles of different female plumages. Taken together, these findings are consistent with sex-specific selection favoring the evolution of female ornaments and demonstrate a key role for testosterone in generating population divergence in female ornamentation through gene regulation. More broadly, our work highlights similarities and differences in how ornamentation evolves in the sexes.

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“…white feather moustaches in Inca Terns (Larosterna inca), Velando et al 2001). Diamant et al (2021) identified that more than 25% of hummingbird species had females that resemble male-like coloration, and female-limited polymorphism is associated with ecology, migratory status, and social dominance. Future studies should consider both sexes when investigating correlations between plumage ornaments and social interactions.…”

Section: Social Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Multifunctionality of Feathers and the Evolution of BIrds

Terrill¹,

Shultz²

2021

Preprint

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The ability feathers have to perform many functions simultaneously and at different times is integral to the evolutionary history of all birds. Many studies focus on single functions of feathers; but any given feather performs many functions over its lifetime. Here, we review the known functions of feathers and discuss the interactions of these functions with avian evolution. Recent years have seen an increase in research on the evolution and development of feather functions because of an increase in high quality fossils with preserved feathers, new tools for understanding genetic mechanisms of feather development, new tools for measuring and analyzing feather color, availability of phylogenies and phylogenetic comparative methods, and an increase in interest in feather molt. Here, we aim to review how feather functions interact with avian evolution, with a focus on recent technological and discovery-based advances. By synthesizing research into feather functions over hierarchical scales, we aim to provide a broad context for how the adaptability and multifunctionality of feathers have allowed birds to diversify into the astounding array of environments and life-history strategies. Overall, we suggest research into avian evolution that involves feather function in any way should consider all aspects of a feathers’ functionality, including multiple functions, molt patterns, ecological/mechanical interactions, and feather wear over time. With this more holistic view, processes such as the evolution of avian coloration and flight can be understood in a broader and more nuanced context.

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Male-like female morphs in hummingbirds: the evolution of a widespread sex-limited plumage polymorphism

Cited by 21 publications

References 73 publications

Ornaments are equally informative in males and females: a bivariate meta-analysis in birds

Ornaments are equally informative in males and females: a bivariate meta-analysis in birds

The evolutionary history and mechanistic basis of female ornamentation in a tropical songbird

On the Multifunctionality of Feathers and the Evolution of BIrds

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