Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi)
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 particul...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:13647 2023-05-15T18:27:20+02:00 Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. 2002 http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13647/ unknown American Ornithologists Union Phillips, Richard A.; Dawson, Deborah A.; Ross, Douglas J. 2002 Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi). Auk, 119 (3). 858-863. https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2 <https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2> Biology and Microbiology Zoology Ecology and Environment Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2002 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2 2023-02-04T19:28:43Z 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 Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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Open Polar |
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Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
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ftnerc |
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unknown |
topic |
Biology and Microbiology Zoology Ecology and Environment |
spellingShingle |
Biology and Microbiology Zoology Ecology and Environment Phillips, Richard A. Dawson, Deborah A. Ross, Douglas J. Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi) |
topic_facet |
Biology and Microbiology Zoology Ecology and Environment |
description |
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. |
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 |
American Ornithologists Union |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13647/ |
genre |
Stercorarius skua |
genre_facet |
Stercorarius skua |
op_relation |
Phillips, Richard A.; Dawson, Deborah A.; Ross, Douglas J. 2002 Mating patterns and reversed size dimorphism in southern skuas (Stercorarius skua lonnbergi). Auk, 119 (3). 858-863. https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2 <https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1642/0004-8038(2002)119[0858:MPARSD]2.0.CO;2 |
_version_ |
1766209403095089152 |