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Geographic variation in sexual selection and implications for speciation in the Barn Swallow

Elizabeth SC Scordato()Rebecca J Safran
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Abstract

Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica), a group of passerine birds comprised of six closely related subspecies, are well known throughout their nearly worldwide distribution, in part because of their close association with human settlements. A tractable species for both individual-based and population-level studies, Barn Swallows are a prominent model system in evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral research. Here we review work on sexual selection and population divergence in this species complex, focusing on comparative studies among populations and subspecies. We summarize variation in the targets of mate choice and in the information conveyed by sexually selected traits, and conclude that the benefits advertised by different traits may vary geographically. Finally, we consider the role of sexual selection as a driver of population divergence in this widespread and phenotypically variable species complex.

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Avian Research
Article number: 8
Cite this article:
Scordato ES, Safran RJ. Geographic variation in sexual selection and implications for speciation in the Barn Swallow. Avian Research, 2014, 5(1): 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40657-014-0008-4
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