Comportamento de lek do tangará-príncipe (Chiroxiphia pareola Linnaeus, 1766)

Abstract

Sexual selection plays a crucial role in the evolution of physical and behavioral characteristics that provide competitive advantages in reproduction. Larger animals or those with vibrant colors have an advantage in attracting partners, as these signals indicate health and resistance. In the genus Chiroxiphia, males exhibit lek behaviors, where two males coordinate elaborate displays to attract females. This study aims to describe the reproductive behavior of Chiroxiphia pareola, whose display elements have yet to be detailed, and to compare them with sister species to understand their role in lineage diversification. Nineteen behaviors were identified, with 14 exhibited by males and 5 by females. A new behavior, the "dive jump," was observed only in this species. The males' displays followed a stereotyped sequence, always starting with "long jumps," but varied in duration and frequency. The performance of certain elements, such as "short jumps" and the "dive jump" itself, appears to be decisive for female partner choice. The courtship behavior primarily involved two adult males coordinating jumps and vocalizations, while the females observed motionless but occasionally performed jumps and slides. Compared to other species in the genus Chiroxiphia, such as C. caudata, C. napensis, C. lanceolata, and C. linearis, C. pareola exhibited more similar behaviors with C. napensis. The similarity of displays was greater among species that are phylogenetically closer, with 56% of the variation in behaviors explained by evolutionary proximity. Although the results provide support for works about evolution of behaviors associated with the phylogenetic proximity among species of the genus, unique display elements of some species also point to exclusive characteristics that may be the result of sexual selection and, consequently, also are drivers of the diversification process.