birding-aus

Noisy Friarbird - WHY BARE HEADS AND BILL KNOBS?

To:
Subject: Noisy Friarbird - WHY BARE HEADS AND BILL KNOBS?
From: Carol Probets <>
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 11:35:53 +1100
I've just re-read my message and realised that "enticement" is probably the
wrong word (I was trying to be descriptive). Of course evolution doesn't
work that way. Perhaps "reward" or "trade-off" would have been a better
word. Anyway, I think you all know what I meant.


>I guess the knob and associated depressions act as a kind of enticement to
>the plants to evolve flowering characteristics that are of benefit to Noisy
>Friarbirds as opposed to other honeyeaters (for example, a large volume of
>nectar which is easily accessible to a bird of its size, perhaps
>concentrated within an area which can be defended by a group of
>friarbirds). This is just my own speculation, of course.
>
>I think it's probably a good example of evolution resulting from benefits
>to kin rather than the individual itself. I think it's a fascinating topic.
>
>Carol


Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message
"unsubscribe birding-aus" (no quotes, no Subject line)
to 


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the birding-aus mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU