Evolution of elaborate multicomponent courtship displays

Complex courtship displays and striking appearances are thought to be the result of sexual selection, a form of selection different from natural selection, which favors specifically all traits that increase reproductive success. Sexual selection can play an essential role in the evolution of new species, as it can help develop reproductive isolation between populations of the same species. Indeed, very often, closely related species differ in the coloration of traits, such as feathers, used during mate choice. Traditionally, behavioral features have been given less importance in studies of speciation processes. However, many species show very elaborate courtship, which includes dances, acrobatics, and bizarre postures, which are also the result of sexual selection. In this project, we examine whether morphological and behavioral traits have undergone separate selective processes in a group of birds known for their acrobatic displays, the bearded manakins (genus Manacus). This genus includes four species that range from Central America to Southern Brazil. These species differ primarily in plumage color and appear to have similar courtship displays. However, recent studies from our group showed that courtship differs between the two species and that hybrids exhibit courtship with intermediate features. Using state-of-the-art 3D videorecordings and machine learning tools, we will investigate how the acrobatic displays differ among and within species and whether morphology and behavior have followed separate paths during the speciation process.