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The Evolution of Polyandry in Shorebirds

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Shorebirds

Abstract

The existence of polyandry has posed a difficult problem for theories attempting to account for the evolution of mating systems. The theory of sexual selection predicts competition among males, greater female than male parental investment, and more sexual promiscuity on the part of males than females (Darwin, 1871; Fisher, 1930; Orians, 1969; Trivers, 1972; Emlen and Oring, 1977). Polyandrous mating systems, particularly in extreme cases such as the Northern Jacana (Jacana spinosa) (Jenni and Collier, 1972), seem to violate each of these predictions. Females are larger and more aggressive than males, parental care is performed only by males, and females copulate with several males whereas each male copulates with only one female.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Animal Behavior, Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey, 07102, USA

    Sarah Lenington

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  1. Sarah Lenington
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Bureau of Biological Research, Rutgers University, 08854, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA

    Joanna Burger

  2. Oregon State University, Newport, Oregon, USA

    Bori L. Olla

  3. Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Bori L. Olla

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© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

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Lenington, S. (1984). The Evolution of Polyandry in Shorebirds. In: Burger, J., Olla, B.L. (eds) Shorebirds. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4691-3_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4691-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4693-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4691-3

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