Synopses & Reviews
Ever since Darwin, birds have provided much of the stimulus for the study of evolution and natural selection. This volume in the Oxford Ornithology Series looks at three of the most fascinating aspects of their reproductive biology: sexual selection, parental care, and mating systems. It provides empirical assessments of the main theories of mate choice by females and includes numerous related topics such as the role of sexual selection in speciation. It examines the often extreme sexual dimorphism in plumage and the bewildering array of ornamentation and courtship displays. Although most avian species are socially monogamous, others exhibit polygyny or polyandry of various forms, and the book looks at the effects of these extra-pair copulations on paternity and on the evolution of mating systems. Throughout the book the various theories are illustrated with extensive examples drawn a wide range of species, making it a valuable resource for all ornithologists and student of animal behavior.
Review
"David Ligon's book is a review of current knowledge about the factors causing variation in breeding systems in birds, strongly flavoured with historical information about the development of currently influential ideas. The book is also a review of current theories of sexual selection as they apply to birds . . . Ligon's approach is to treat different subject areas at length, reviewing classic studies and often discussing them in quite considerable detail. . . . For anyone interested in a detailed well-written summary of research in sexual selection in birds over the last 30 or so years, this book represents the best choice currently available . . . Ligon writes beautifully, if at times lengthily, and this book has very high production values. . . . [It] is much more enjoyable to read than most scientific monographs. For those wishing to be introduced to the study of sexual selection in birds, it will do an excellent job . . ."--Animal Behaviour
"Birds present what is perhaps the most striking and diverse array of ornamental traits found in animals ... Birds also possess a diverse array of mating systems, including social monogamy with or without genetic monogamy, polygyny, polyandry, lek promiscuity, and various forms of cooperative breeding. These two sets of phenomena are related, in that almost all ornamental traits function in mating, and both are treated in this book. ... For many years, the main thrust of research on avian mating systems has been to show how ecological conditions shape the evolution of particular systems. Ligon gives full play to these ecological hypotheses, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of an additional factor, namely history. ... Altogether, Ligon's thorough and thoughtful review of mating systems in birds ought to inject renewed vigor into this area of research."--The Quarterly Review of Biology
About the Author
J. David Ligon is Professor of Biology at the University of New Mexico. Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico,
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sexual selection: theories of female mate choice
3. Ethological concepts and sexual selection
4. Morphological ornaments and song
5. Male condition, parasites, and fluctuating asymmetry
6. Empirical studies of the major hypotheses
7. Phylogenetic studies of reproductive patterns
8. Sexual selection and speciation
9. Male mate choice and intrasexual competition
10. The benefits of oviparity and the evolution of biparental care
11. Social monogamy
12. Extra-pair copulations and their evolutionary significance
13. Multiple mates: polygyny and cooperative polyandry
14. Cooperative breeding
15. Lek mating systmes
1 6. Classical polyandry: the more puzzling of avian mating systems