Calum Ninnes

Doktorand, ekologisk zoologi

Tel: 46 (0)31-786 36 52 | calum.ninnes@bioenv.gu.se

Research interests

The focus of my PhD research is colour communication and speciation in African widowbirds (genus Euplectes). Across the 17 species in this genus, polygamous males undergo a nuptial moult which displays varying amounts of yellow or red carotenoid colouration and, in some species, graduated elongated tails.

Previous studies have investigated the function of red carotenoid colour signals (intrasexual competition) and elongated tails (female choice) in several red coloured widowbird species, however, yellow colouration has not been studied in this genus.

My research, integrating behavioural ecology, ecophysiology, and molecular techniques, will focus on the costs and functions of yellow carotenoid colouration in several widowbird species. Additionally, I will investigate the function and interaction of colour signal polymorphisms across sympatric populations of two white-winged widowbird (E. albonotatus) subspecies, testing the significance of sexual selection and species recognition as positive selection pressures on these signals.

The overall goal of my research is to contribute to previous studies addressing one of the major broad scale questions of my group: what selection pressures and constraints have driven/ are driving extreme signal diversity in the genus Euplectes?

Primary supervisor: Staffan Andersson