Signaling Efficacy Drives the Evolution of Larger Sexual Ornaments by Sexual Selection

Exaggerated male traits under sexual selection are often used for both competition and courtship, raising the question of whether ornaments evolved simultaneously for both functions, or if use in one context preceded use in another. Here, we apply a phylogenetic approach to study the evolution of ornamental dorsal fins in male poeciliid fish of the subgenera Mollienesia and Limia, which exhibit convergent development of an enlarged dorsal fin, and often direct erect‐fin displays to male and female conspecifics. Unlike prior categorical assessments of poeciliid adornments, we measure dorsal fin exaggeration with a continuous index of ornamentation. Phylogenetic logistic and generalized least squares regression analyses indicate that high index values are significantly associated with the use of two component postures of courtship and aggressive displays, dorsal fin erection and body curvature, but not with the presence of sexual dichromatism. Male displays initially evolved for male–male aggression in the common ancestor of Mollienesia and Limia, suggesting that this signal originated for competition, then became co‐opted for courtship. These results support the armament‐ornament hypothesis for evolution of exaggerated male traits, and are consistent with an evolutionary shift in the predominant mechanisms of sexual selection from intra‐ to intersexual.

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“…; Tazzyman et al. ). This scenario has been proposed for enlarged male dorsal fins in the species Xiphophorus birchmanni (Robinson et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

In love and war: The morphometric and phylogenetic basis of ornamentation, and the evolution of male display behavior, in the livebearer genus Poecilia

et al. 2019

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“…In empirical studies, however, its understanding is still insufficient, because most studies have focused solely on secondary sexual characteristics (i.e., traits that are fully developed at maturation but are not a direct part of the reproductive organs; e.g., see Tazzyman et al 2014 for a recent review), perhaps in part due to the intuitive importance of sexual selection (Andersson 1994) or simply due to its eye-catching nature (Tazzyman et al 2014). This circumstance potentially biases our understanding of female mate choice and its evolutionary impact on male phenotype.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beauty alone is insufficient: female mate choice in the barn swallow

Hasegawa

2017

Ecological Research

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The barn swallow, Hirundo rustica, is a model species for studying sexual selection, particularly female mate choice. Although there have already been several reviews of female mate choice and its geographic variation in this species, all of them have focused on secondary sexual characteristics. Here, for better understanding of the general pattern of female mate choice and their influence on male phenotype, I review all of the female mate choice criteria ever reported in the barn swallow, emphasizing the importance of relatively inconspicuous male traits. These include resources defended or provided by males, such as territory and paternal investment. In addition, females prefer a nestling-like vocalization, enticement call, which is particularly noteworthy because females prefer immature calls. This pattern contrasts with female choice based on secondary sexual characteristics, in which more mature, elaborate male traits are almost always favored. Nestling-like male traits are widespread, and thus female avoidance of, rather than preference for, mature forms might be common. In addition to selection on the target trait itself, these resources and nestling-like male traits would also matter in understanding the evolution of the overall male phenotype and its geographic variation, due to the interrelationships among male target traits and those among female mate preferences. Female preferences for inconspicuous traits are highly dependent on ecological factors such as nest predation pressure, and thus overall male phenotype including secondary sexual characteristics might be more predictable than previously thought. Future studies should focus on not only conspicuous secondary sexual characteristics but inconspicuous male traits.

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“…A large number of empirical studies have taken place and have shown that more exaggerated male traits, rather than lesser forms, are almost always favored in female mate choice and thus have a sexually selected advantage (but see Griffith et al 1999;recent reviews: Hill 2006;Tazzyman et al 2014a), which explains the elaborate ornamentation of many animals. It is still unclear whether this is also applicable to other sexual (or courtship) traits that are neutral or negatively related to maturation (i.e., relatively "cryptic" male traits; Tazzyman et al 2014a). It is still unclear whether this is also applicable to other sexual (or courtship) traits that are neutral or negatively related to maturation (i.e., relatively "cryptic" male traits; Tazzyman et al 2014a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female Attraction to Higher Pitched Male Enticement Calls in Barn Swallows

Hasegawa

Arai

2016

Ethology

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Current sexual selection studies demonstrate that female mate preference almost always favors exaggerated male traits, such as colorful plumage and elongated tails. However, such studies focused mainly on secondary sexual characteristics, i.e., traits that are fully developed at maturation, while ignoring others, which precludes generalization of the findings. We studied the expression of the male enticement call, a nestling‐like courtship trait, in relation to female attraction and to the expression of secondary sexual ornaments in the Japanese barn swallow Hirundo rustica gutturalis. First, we showed that the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was, on average, lower than that of nestling food‐begging calls, indicating that higher pitched calls are more similar to nestling food‐begging calls than are lower pitched calls. Second, we conducted an experimental playback of male enticement calls during the courtship period with the female's mate removed, and found that females were more attracted to heightened‐pitch calls than to control calls. Lastly, the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was negatively related to the ornamentation, as measured by throat coloration. Taken together, these findings suggest the following: (1) females are attracted to a more nestling‐like trait, and (2) similarity to nestling food‐begging calls increases with decreasing secondary sexual ornaments. Nestling‐like male traits that are not secondary sexual characteristics should be considered when studying the general pattern of female attraction to male traits.

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Signaling Efficacy Drives the Evolution of Larger Sexual Ornaments by Sexual Selection

Cited by 29 publications

References 148 publications

In love and war: The morphometric and phylogenetic basis of ornamentation, and the evolution of male display behavior, in the livebearer genus Poecilia

In love and war: The morphometric and phylogenetic basis of ornamentation, and the evolution of male display behavior, in the livebearer genus Poecilia

Beauty alone is insufficient: female mate choice in the barn swallow

Female Attraction to Higher Pitched Male Enticement Calls in Barn Swallows

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