Meeting Abstract
Cases of sympatry, where closely related species inhabit the same region, offer unique insight into the mechanisms responsible for reproductive isolation and speciation. Birds are a taxon where sympatric species frequently hybridize (9% of species) and behaviors such as song often influence mate choice. While songbirds learn both their song and preference, many other birds, including the Todidae family, have innate vocalizations that still play a role in mate choice. Todidae is endemic to the Caribbean and includes five species spread across four islands, with Hispaniola the only island to have two species occurring sympatrically. For this study, I aimed to use behavioral analyses to assess if hybridization could occur between the Broad-billed and Narrow-billed todies. I conducted paired-speaker playback experiments in three sympatric and three allopatric sites for each species to compare how both Todus spp. respond to conspecific and heterospecific vocalizations. Preliminary analyses suggest no responses to heterospecifics in either species in allopatric zones, but stronger response to heterospecifics at sympatric sites. Further elucidating these responses will help determine if hybridization could occur, or if vocal responses aid in preventing it. Understanding how these birds behave with heterospecifics could have implications for understanding species barriers in other sympatric sites.
