ACOUSTIC FREQUENCIES AND BODY-MASS IN NEW-WORLD DOVES

We studied the acoustic frequencies contained in the songs of 44 speci es of New World doves of eight genera in relation to body mass and hab itat structure. On each sonogram, maximum (MAX), minimum (MIN), emphas ized frequency (ENF), and frequency bandwidth (BAND = MAX - MIN) were measured. Log-transformed frequencies and body mass data were subjecte d to a comparative analysis of independent contrast, using Goodwin's ( 1983) phylogeny. We show the existence of a negative relationship amon g frequencies and body mass, irrespective of the model of character ev olution chosen. Similar results were obtained in raw contrast comparis ons among 13 pairs of closely related species. Residuals of variation in song frequencies, after control for the effect of body mass and phy logeny, differed among habitats. In particular, closed habitat species use significantly higher MAX than their more open habitat relatives. This pattern contrasts with the one reported in studies based on commu nity-wide comparisons, which in general do not correct song data for p hylogeny and body mass, or include oscine species.