RT Journal Article
T1 Call variation of Crested Francolin  (Dendroperdix sephaena)  across Africa defies the effects of spatial gradients
A1 Van Niekerk, Johann H.
A1 Megia Palma, Rodrigo Manuel
A1 Forcina, Giovanni
AB The study of intraspecific geographical variation of non-passerine vocalizations remains under-studied, especially in African species. We explored spatial patterns in call variation of the Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena across its wide sub-Saharan distribution in Africa. We extracted and compared 152 pair duets from 44 recordings encompassing four D. sephaena subspecies and, in the field, played back each subspecies’ vocalizations to 15 D. s. sephaena and three D. s. zambesiae males to document their behaviour. We recorded strong responses to con-subspecific calls and weak responses to hetero-subspecific calls, especially towards D. s. grantii and D. s. rovuma. This indicates that intraspecific vocal variability in D. sephaena is not clinal but spatially discrete, and strictly reflects subspecies affiliation (albeit with more similar vocal features among geographically neighbouring subspecies). Vocal variation in D. sephaena may have evolved under palaeoclimatic events that fragmented its former range and promoted allopatric diversification before a re-expansion into partial sympatry.
PB John Wiley & Sons
SN 0019-1019
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/113722
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/113722
LA eng
NO Van Niekerk, J. H., Megía-Palma, R., & Forcina, G. (2021). Call variation of Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) across Africa defies the effects of spatial gradients. Ibis, 163(4), 1409-1424. https://doi.org/10.1111/IBI.12945
NO This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT fellowships PTDC/BAA-AGR/28866/2017 to G.F. and CEECIND/04084/2017 to R.M.P.).
NO Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 16 dic 2025