SEXUAL SELECTION AND TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY IN PASSERINE BIRDS

Authors
BARRACLOUGH TG HARVEY PH NEE S
Citation
Tg. Barraclough et al., SEXUAL SELECTION AND TAXONOMIC DIVERSITY IN PASSERINE BIRDS, Proceedings - Royal Society. Biological Sciences, 259(1355), 1995, pp. 211-215
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Biology
Journal title
Proceedings - Royal Society. Biological Sciences → ACNP
ISSN journal
09628452
Volume
259
Issue
1355
Year of publication
1995
Pages
211 - 215
Database
ISI
SICI code
0962-8452(1995)259:1355<211:SSATDI>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Many authors have suggested that sexual selection by female choice may increase the speciation rate and hence generate taxonomic diversity. Using sister taxa comparisons, we find a significant positive correlat ion between the proportion of sexually dichromatic species within taxa of passerine birds, and the number of species in those taxa. Theory p redicts this result if sexual dichromatism in passerines has evolved t hrough the action of female choice.