Author Description
Some Birds Mate For Life, While Others Have Many Partners. In This Book, Fourteen Studies Are Brought Together To Compare Different Partnership Patterns From Ecological And Evolutionary Perspectives. The Subjects Have Been Chosen To Include The Same Species Living In Different Habitats (sparrowhawks) And At Different Population Densities (great Tits). There Are Comparisons Between Closely Related Species (mute Swans And Bewick's Swans). The Studies Span The Globe And The Behavioural Gradient, From Iceland's Strictly Monogamous Whooper Swans To Australia's Sexually Promiscuous Splendid Fairy-wrens. In All Cases, Sexual And Social Relationships Strongly Influence A Bird's Survival And Breeding Success.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the ecological and evolutionary drivers behind the diverse mating systems observed in avian species. Author Jeffrey M. Black compiles fourteen classic studies to examine why certain bird species maintain lifelong partnerships while others engage in promiscuous behavior. The text utilizes these case studies to argue that sexual and social relationships are critical determinants of an individual bird's survival and reproductive success.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Comparative analysis of mating patterns across diverse global habitats.
- Examination of species living in varying population densities, such as great tits.
- Contrasts between closely related species, including mute and Bewick's swans.
- Evolutionary frameworks explaining the 'battle of the sexes' in avian populations.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on the selected fourteen case studies rather than an exhaustive survey of all avian species.
- It does not provide a comprehensive guide to bird identification or general ornithology outside the context of mating behavior.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this volume as a valuable synthesis of behavioral ecology, noting its effectiveness in bridging the gap between specific field studies and broader evolutionary theory. Readers frequently highlight the clarity with which the author connects complex social dynamics to measurable breeding outcomes.
Page Count:
432
Publication Date:
1996-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press, Uk
ISBN-10:
0191590541
ISBN-13:
9780191590542
Science
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Biology
Ornithology
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