GELIFES Seminars - David Wheatcroft

David Wheatcroft (University of Stockholm)

Connecting population-level divergence in sexual trait preferences with species recognition

Discriminating against other species' mating traits is a key factor in maintaining species-assortative mating, particularly between closely related species. However, the selective forces that drive species divergence in discrimination remain challenging in natural systems. I study the drivers of song discrimination in birds using comparisons across multiple populations of pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) that vary both in the songs produced by adults as well as whether they co-occur with closely related collared flycatchers (F. albicollis). 12-day-old pied flycatchers discriminate against the songs of collared flycatchers in a population where they co-occur. Here, I show that young pied flycatchers also discriminate against collared flycatcher songs in populations where collareds are absent and that the strength of discrimination depends on the specific features of their local songs. In particular, populations having songs that are highly distinct from those of collareds have stronger species-level discrimination. This association connects population-level divergence in learned sexual traits with the emergence of species recognition.