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ADAPTATION IN THE GENUS PHYLLOSCOPUS
Author(s) -
Gaston A. J.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1974.tb07644.x
Subject(s) - wing , biology , niche , adaptation (eye) , genus , zoology , plumage , ecological niche , evolutionary biology , ecology , habitat , engineering , aerospace engineering , neuroscience
SUMMARY The paper describes variation among species of the genus Phylloscopus in weight, relative wing‐, tail‐, tarsus‐, and bill‐length, tail/wing ratio and degree of roundness of the wing, wing formula, emargination, and plumage colour. This variation is compared with differences in niche preference within the genus, and relationships between niche, feeding strategies, and morphology are suggested. It is concluded that evolution within the genus has taken place mainly through the development of different feeding strategies, to suit the structural properties of different niches, without altering the range of size of the prey. The genus Sylvia is treated briefly in order to provide comparison, and other genera of Sylviinae are discussed where parallel adaptation seems likely.