Sexual Selection and the Barn Swallow

by Møller, Anders Pape; Gregersen, Jens

• ISBN13: 9780198540281
• ISBN10: 0198540280
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-06-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This informative book details the important effects sexual selection has on barn swallow mating behavior, mating competition, parental care, host-parasite interactions, and migration strategies. The first two chapters present a concise, insightful review of the two main components of sexual selection theory--male-male competition and female choice. Citing evidence from the author's long-term field work on the monogamous barn swallow, subsequent chapters investigate the advantages held by males with colorful plumage and by females who are choosy when selecting a mating partner. In his exploration of the roles of behavior, ecology, morphology, genetics, and evolution, Moller provides an invaluable synthesis of barn swallow mating behavior research. Students and researchers of ecology, animal behavior, ornithology, and evolutionary biology will welcome this book.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What is Sexual Selection?

A Brief History of Sexual Selection

Why is Sexual Selection Interesting?

The Role of Sexual Selection in Animal Life

Evolution Versus Maintenance of Sexual Displays

Outline of the Book

Summary

Models of Sexual Selection and Monogamy

Introduction

The Two Modes of Sexual Selection

Models of Male-Male Competition

Models of Mate Preferences

Sexual Selection and Monogamy

Summary

The Study Organism

Introduction

Morphology of the Barn Swallow

Natural History of the Barn Swallow

Sexual Behavior of Barn Swallows

Constraints on Evolution of Secondary Sexual Characters

Study Methods

Summary

Male Mating Advantages

Introduction

Components of Sexual Selection

Evaluation of Sexual Selection Components

Relative Importance of Mating Advantages4

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