The sexual signals of the East-Mediterranean barn swallow: a different swallow tale

Vortman, Yoni; Lotem, Arnon; Dor, Roi; Lovette, Irby J.; Safran, Rebecca J.

doi:10.1093/beheco/arr139

Cited by 54 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Within some populations of barn swallows, the length of streamers (the outermost tail feathers) plays a key role in mate choice [22][23][24]. However, studies in North America suggest dark melanin-based plumage colour is more important in mate choice among H. r. erythrogaster [25][26][27] …”

Section: Materials and Methods (A) Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal signalling in the North American barn swallow: a phenotype network approach

et al. 2015

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Complex signals, involving multiple components within and across modalities, are common in animal communication. However, decomposing complex signals into traits and their interactions remains a fundamental challenge for studies of phenotype evolution. We apply a novel phenotype network approach for studying complex signal evolution in the North American barn swallow (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster). We integrate model testing with correlation-based phenotype networks to infer the contributions of female mate choice and male-male competition to the evolution of barn swallow communication. Overall, the best predictors of mate choice were distinct from those for competition, while moderate functional overlap suggests males and females use some of the same traits to assess potential mates and rivals. We interpret model results in the context of a network of traits, and suggest this approach allows researchers a more nuanced view of trait clustering patterns that informs new hypotheses about the evolution of communication systems.

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Section: Materials and Methods (A) Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multimodal signalling in the North American barn swallow: a phenotype network approach

et al. 2015

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“…Contour body feathers undergo a post-breeding, pre-migratory partial molt and then a second molt episode during wintering [52]. Male traits that have been shown to be currently under sexual selection are, depending on the population, length and symmetry of the outermost tail feathers, coloration of breast and belly feathers, and song [49]–[51], [53]–[57].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Dimorphism in Melanin Pigmentation, Feather Coloration and Its Heritability in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

et al. 2013

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Melanin is the main pigment in animal coloration and considerable variation in the concentrations of the two melanin forms (pheo- and eumlanin) in pigmented tissues exists among populations and individuals. Melanin-based coloration is receiving increasing attention particularly in socio-sexual communication contexts because the melanocortin system has been hypothesized to provide a mechanistic basis for covariation between coloration and fitness traits. However, with few notable exceptions, little detailed information is available on inter-individual and inter-population variation in melanin pigmentation and on its environmental, genetic and ontogenetic components. Here, we investigate melanin-based coloration in an Italian population of a passerine bird, the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica), its sex- and age-related variation, and heritability. The concentrations of eu- and pheomelanin in the throat (brown) and belly (white-to-brownish) feathers differed between sexes but not according to age. The relative concentration of either melanin (Pheo:Eu) differed between sexes in throat but not in belly feathers, and the concentrations in males compared to females were larger in belly than in throat feathers. There were weak correlations between the concentrations of melanins within as well as among plumage regions. Coloration of belly feathers was predicted by the concentration of both melanins whereas coloration of throat feathers was only predicted by pheomelanin in females. In addition, Pheo:Eu predicted coloration of throat feathers in females and that of belly feathers in males. Finally, we found high heritability of color of throat feathers. Melanization was found to differ from that recorded in Hirundo rustica rustica from Scotland or from H. r. erythrogaster from North America. Hence, present results show that pigmentation strategies vary in a complex manner according to sex and plumage region, and also among geographical populations, potentially reflecting adaptation to different natural and sexual selection regimes, and that some coloration components seem to be highly heritable.

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“…Again, there appears to be variation in sexual selection on tail streamers among these subspecies. Male H. r. transitiva have tail streamers that are nearly as long as those in H. r. rustica, and, accordingly, males with longer streamers breed earlier and have fewer extra pair young in their nests in both correlational (Vortman et al 2011) and experimental (Vortman et al 2013) studies. By contrast, male H. r. gutturalis, which have much shorter streamers than H. r. rustica and H. r. transitiva, do not gain any significant reproductive benefits based on tail length in correlational datasets (Kojima et al 2009;Hasegawa et al 2010).…”

Section: Geographical Variation In Sexual Selection On Tail Streamersmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Experimental work in this subspecies has shown that both ventral color and tail streamer length predict different aspects of breeding success, with darker males raising more young over the course of a season, and males with longer tail streamers breeding earlier and having fewer extra-pair chicks in their nests (Vortman et al 2011(Vortman et al , 2013.…”

Section: Plumage Coloration In Other Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic variation in sexual selection and implications for speciation in the Barn Swallow

Scordato

Safran

2014

Avian Res

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Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), a group of passerine birds comprised of six closely related subspecies, are well known throughout their nearly worldwide distribution, in part because of their close association with human settlements. A tractable species for both individual-based and population-level studies, Barn Swallows are a prominent model system in evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral research. Here we review work on sexual selection and population divergence in this species complex, focusing on comparative studies among populations and subspecies. We summarize variation in the targets of mate choice and in the information conveyed by sexually selected traits, and conclude that the benefits advertised by different traits may vary geographically. Finally, we consider the role of sexual selection as a driver of population divergence in this widespread and phenotypically variable species complex.

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The sexual signals of the East-Mediterranean barn swallow: a different swallow tale

Cited by 54 publications

References 48 publications

Multimodal signalling in the North American barn swallow: a phenotype network approach

Multimodal signalling in the North American barn swallow: a phenotype network approach

Sexual Dimorphism in Melanin Pigmentation, Feather Coloration and Its Heritability in the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Geographic variation in sexual selection and implications for speciation in the Barn Swallow

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