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RESEARCH FRONT
Contents Vol 110(1)

Adaptation and function of the bills of Darwin’s finches: divergence by feeding type and sex

Anthony Herrel A B I , Joris Soons C , Peter Aerts B D , Joris Dirckx C , Matthieu Boone E , Patric Jacobs F , Dominique Adriaens G and Jeffrey Podos H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Département d’Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, Case postale 55, F-75231, Paris Cedex 5, France.

B Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.

C Department of Biomedical Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium.

D Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

E Department of Subatomic and Radiation Physics, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

F Vakgroep Geologie en Bodemkunde, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

G Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University – UGent, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.

H Department of Biology and Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

I Corresponding author. Email: anthony.herrel@mnhn.fr

Emu 110(1) 39-47 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU09034
Submitted: 4 May 2009  Accepted: 5 September 2009   Published: 18 February 2010

Abstract

Darwin’s finches are a model system for studying adaptive diversification. However, despite the large body of work devoted to this system, rather little is known about the functional consequences of variation in the size and shape of bills. We test, using two methods, if natural or sexual selection, or both, has resulted in functional divergence in bill and head morphology. Firstly, we compare data on head-shape and bite-forces across nine species of Darwin’s finches. Secondly, we use micro-CT scans and finite-element models to test the prediction that the shape of the bill in representatives of the different feeding types is adaptively related to use of the bill. Sexual dimorphism in head-shape and bite-force was detected, with females having longer bills than males for a given body size. Moreover, our results show strong differences in bill- and head-morphology between feeding types, with base-crushers having higher bite-forces and also relatively high bite-forces at the tip compared to probers and tip-biters. Finally, our finite-element models suggest that the shape of the bill in the tip-biters and base-crushers confers mechanical advantages by minimising stress in tip-loading and base-loading conditions, respectively, thus reducing probabilities of fracture. Our data support the contention that bill-shape is adaptive and evolves under selection for mechanical optimisation through natural selection on feeding mode.

Additional keywords: bird, bite-force, finite-element modeling, sexual dimorphism.


Acknowledgements

We thank S. Maas and J. Weis (University of Utah) for allowing us to use the FEBio software package. Field work was coordinated through the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galápagos National Park Service (GNPS). We are particularly grateful for the generosity of the GNPS in granting a salvage permit. The authors thank Luis De Leon, Ana Gabela, Andrew Hendry, Mike Hendry, Eric Hilton, Sarah Huber, Katleen Huyghe, and Bieke Vanhooydonck for their assistance in the field. This project was supported by NSF grant IBN-0347291 to J. Podos; by an interdisciplinary research grant of the special research fund of the University of Antwerp to P. Aerts, J. Dirckx, J. Soons and A. Herrel; and by an Aspirant fellowship of the Research Foundation – Flanders to J. Podos.


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