AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Food Distribution and a Variable Mating System in the Dunnock, Prunella modularis

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1984
Authors:Davies, NB, LUNDBERG, A
Journal:Journal of Animal Ecology
Volume:53
Issue:3
Date Published:1984
ISBN Number:00218790
Keywords:Prunella, Prunella modularis, Prunellidae
Abstract:(1) The mating combinations were very varied and included monogamy (pairs), polyandry (two or three males with one female), polygyny (one male with two females) and polygynandry (two or three males shared two, three or four females). (2) Female ranges were always exclusive. Where two or three males shared one or more females, the ranges of the males overlapped and they cooperated to defend the territory. There was a dominance hierarchy among the males; alpha males were often old birds and beta males often first year birds. There were no known cases of close relatives being involved within any of the mating combinations. (3) It is suggested that the different mating combinations form a continuum in a male's ability to monopolize access to females, varying, in increasing order of mating success, from unpaired, to shared access to one female (polyandry), sole access to one female (monogamy), shared access to more than one female (polygynandry) and finally sole access to more than one female (polygyny). (4) The ability of a male to control access to females depended on female range size, which was influenced by food distribution. Where food patches were dense, female ranges were small and they were then easily monopolized giving rise to mating combinations that reflected high male mating success (polygyny and polygynandry). Where food patches were sparse, female ranges were large and they were difficult for one male to monopolize, thus giving rise to mating combinations with lower male mating success (polyandry). (5) When extra food was provided on some territories, female ranges became smaller and the mating system shifted towards greater male mating success (from polyandry towards monogamy and polygynandry).
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4666
Short Title:Journal of Animal Ecology
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith