Evolution of acoustic and visual signals in the thamnophilids of the tribe Formicivorini (Aves: Passeriformes)

• Grant number: 16/08814-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: October 01, 2016
• End date: August 07, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Luís Fábio Silveira
• Grantee: Renata Pereira Beco
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/16938-9 - Evolution of visual signals in the antwrens of the tribe Formicivorini (Aves, Thamnophilidae), BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Animal communication transmits information using different types of sensory signals (e.g., visual, auditory, and olfactory). These signals have different purposes, such as attracting and courting potential mates, defending territories, maintaining groups together, and minimizing predation. In birds, the most used types of sensory signals are acoustic and visual signals. According to the Sensory Drive Hypothesis, sensory signals undergo a selective pressure caused by physical conditions of habitats. Moreover, these signals are pressured by energetic constraints in its production, predation, parasitism, and conflicting forces between natural and sexual selection, thus, making the investment in more type of signal very costly. Due to this high cost, the Transfer Hypothesis (or Trade-off Hypothesis) proposes the existence of an evolutionary trade-off between the different types of sensory signals in organisms. The few studies that tested the Transfer Hypothesis in birds showed divergent results. The proposed research aims at studying acoustic and visual signals in the antwrens of the Tribe Formicivorini to assess the existence of an evolutionary trade-off between vocal and visual signals (Transfer Hypothesis), and the possible role of environmental conditions (Hypothesis Sensory drive), and foraging behavior in driving such trade-off . The Formicivorini is a suitable group of birds for this kind of study, because it exhibits a great diversity of foraging habitats, behavior, song structure, and plumage, and important levels of variations in sexual dimorphism. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BECO, RENATA; SILVEIRA, LUIS F.; DERRYBERRY, ELIZABETH P.; BRAVO, GUSTAVO A.. cology and behavior predict an evolutionary trade-off between song complexity and elaborate plumages in antwrens (Aves, Thamnophilidae. Evolution, v. 75, n. 10, AUG 2021. (16/08814-5, 12/23852-0, 17/16938-9)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BECO, Renata Pereira. Evolution of acoustic and visual signals in the antwrens of the tribe Formicivorini (Aves, Thamnophilidae). 2018. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.