Arena birds : sexual selection and behavior
(Book)
Author
Published
Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, ©1994.
Physical Description
viii, 330 pages, [16] pages of plates : illustrations (some color), chrts ; 27 cm
Status
Summary
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Also in this Series
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Copies
Location | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
McCracken Research Library - Main Collection | QL 698.3 .J64 1994 | On Shelf |
Subjects
Library of Congress Subjects
More Details
Published
Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press, ©1994.
Format
Book
Language
English
Notes
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 304-324) and index.
Summary
In 1871, more than a decade after he unveiled the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin laid out the principles of sexual selection. He suggested that alongside the traits that enable species to survive are those that confer sexual advantage on individuals within the species and thus insure greater transmission to offspring of those individuals' genes. Focusing on some of the most resplendent birds in the avian class - among them ducks, pheasants, grouse, manakins, whydahs, and birds-of-paradise - Paul Johnsgard describes sexual selection in arena-breeding birds, species and groups whose males gather for competitive sexual display in open spaces called arenas or leks. Johnsgard explains Darwin's theory that selection works on the basis of either male dominance - a male wins access to females by bettering his peers - or female choice, in which females survey the field of males and select the most prized mate. Summarizing a vast body of literature, Johnsgard reviews the many elaborations and implications of these theories, such as whether a male most attractive to females is also the most fit for survival (a question of "truth in advertising"). He details for several species and groups the components of mating behavior, including male plumages, strutting, and distinctive calling - sometimes audible over a kilometer away. Arena Birds encompasses those birds that exhibit arena or near-arena behavior, as well as those that build bowers for reproductive signaling purposes. Including a glossary of terms, this book will serve as a basic reference for ornithologists and fascinating reading for anyone interested in sexual relations in the animal kingdom.
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Citations
APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)
Johnsgard, P. A. (1994). Arena birds: sexual selection and behavior . Smithsonian Institution Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Johnsgard, Paul A. 1994. Arena Birds: Sexual Selection and Behavior. Smithsonian Institution Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Johnsgard, Paul A. Arena Birds: Sexual Selection and Behavior Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Johnsgard, Paul A. Arena Birds: Sexual Selection and Behavior Smithsonian Institution Press, 1994.
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