Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi)
Abstract Numerous explanations exist for the evolution of reversed size dimorphism in raptorial species. A recent study concluded that reversed size dimorphism in skuas and jaegers was probably not attributable to breeding-role specialization, but that there was evidence for sexual selection, and in...
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2002
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.3.858 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/119/3/858/29686314/auk0858.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/auk/119.3.858 2024-04-07T07:56:04+00:00 Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. Nelson, D. A. 2002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.3.858 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/119/3/858/29686314/auk0858.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Auk volume 119, issue 3, page 858-863 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2002 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.3.858 2024-03-08T03:04:37Z Abstract Numerous explanations exist for the evolution of reversed size dimorphism in raptorial species. A recent study concluded that reversed size dimorphism in skuas and jaegers was probably not attributable to breeding-role specialization, but that there was evidence for sexual selection, and in particular intrasexual competition by females for males. Our study tested the applicability of those conclusions for Southern (or Brown) Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) breeding in South Georgia. Clutch volume was related positively to size and condition of females and negatively to condition of males, but there was no evidence of assortative mating for size or condition within pairs. Potential explanations for the discrepancy between this and previous studies are that size is less closely correlated with individual quality because of highly diverse foraging strategies, territory quality is a confounding factor, or because lower aggression in Southern Skuas reduces the necessity for small females to avoid large males. Article in Journal/Newspaper Stercorarius skua Oxford University Press The Auk 119 3 858 863 |
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Open Polar |
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Oxford University Press |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Numerous explanations exist for the evolution of reversed size dimorphism in raptorial species. A recent study concluded that reversed size dimorphism in skuas and jaegers was probably not attributable to breeding-role specialization, but that there was evidence for sexual selection, and in particular intrasexual competition by females for males. Our study tested the applicability of those conclusions for Southern (or Brown) Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) breeding in South Georgia. Clutch volume was related positively to size and condition of females and negatively to condition of males, but there was no evidence of assortative mating for size or condition within pairs. Potential explanations for the discrepancy between this and previous studies are that size is less closely correlated with individual quality because of highly diverse foraging strategies, territory quality is a confounding factor, or because lower aggression in Southern Skuas reduces the necessity for small females to avoid large males. |
author2 |
Nelson, D. A. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. |
author_facet |
Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. |
author_sort |
Phillips, Richard A. |
title |
Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
title_short |
Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
title_full |
Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
title_fullStr |
Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mating Patterns and Reversed Size Dimorphism in Southern Skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
title_sort |
mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.3.858 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/119/3/858/29686314/auk0858.pdf |
genre |
Stercorarius skua |
genre_facet |
Stercorarius skua |
op_source |
The Auk volume 119, issue 3, page 858-863 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.3.858 |
container_title |
The Auk |
container_volume |
119 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
858 |
op_container_end_page |
863 |
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1795673748420952064 |