The role of male-male aggressive signals in reproductive isolation between two hybridizing warblers

Tyndel, Stephen Albert

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106426 Copy

Description

Title

The role of male-male aggressive signals in reproductive isolation between two hybridizing warblers

Author(s)

Tyndel, Stephen Albert

Issue Date

2019-09-13

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Ward, Michael P
• Sperry , Jinelle H

Committee Member(s)

Benson, Thomas J.

Department of Study

Natural Res & Env Sci

Discipline

Natural Res & Env Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Communication
• Hybridization
• Speciation

Abstract

Bird-song has been extensively studied for its role in pre-mating reproductive isolation between species. Sometimes song fails to effectively isolate a species and hybrids are produced, giving an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms of how song might act as a reproductive barrier. The ways in which two hybridizing species respond to and recognize each other’s songs can influence the dynamics of the hybrid zone, both via female mate choice and male-male competition. In many species the same song functions for both female mate choice and male-male competition. However, some species, such as the Parulidae Warblers, sing songs with specific functions, where one song is thought to function for female mate choice and the other for male-male competition. My main research goal was to determine how a song thought to function in the context of male-male competition might influence hybridization dynamics between two species. I used Blue-winged Warblers (Vermivora cyanoptera) and Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera) as my model system because they are closely related species that hybridize frequently and produce fertile offspring, yet tend to mate assortatively and hold overlapping territories. They sing two different categories of song; Type-I song (thought to function for female mate choice) and Type-II song (specialized songs thought to function primarily in male-male territorial disputes). My results demonstrate that patterns of hybridization are associated with differences in both Type-II song structure and the ability to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific Type-II songs, suggesting that Type-II song can facilitate a breakdown in reproductive isolation between BWWA and GWWA.

Graduation Semester

2019-12

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106426

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Stephen Tyndel

Owning Collections