Hi Merrilyn,
Your contribution to this little discussion tangent is deeply appreciated.
I was getting ready to throw a rant into action about the total
undesirability of applying human legal concepts and designated crimes such
as rape to birds or other animals.
Being playful about human/bird connections is one thing, but it's another
entirely when the term "rape" is applied to animal behaviour and there are
a range of very dangerous and dodgy implications that might stem from such
games.
For instance, what if some human idiot "out there" decides to rid the
world of wren "rapists" based on some half-baked bit of anthropomorphism.
That's all we need. Let alone some human accused launching a defence along
the lines of "If ducks can't help but do it, I rest my case".
best wishes
Craig Williams
> Hi Belinda and others,
>
>
> It is obvious that if a male bird mates with lots of females, he is more
> likely to produce a greater number of offspring than if he mates with
> only one bird. If his male offspring inherit the behavioural propensity
> to mate with lots of females, then the proportion of multiple-mating
> males in the population will increase, and so it goes on. Those that
> only mate with one female, will be relatively scarce.
>
> If a female bird mates with several males, she will be more likely to
> produce young with a wide variety of characteristics (sperm competition
> aside). Depending on environmental conditions, this may increase the
> number of offspring that survive to sexual maturity. If the survivors
> inherit the propensity to mate with several partners, then the chances
> of their offspring surviving will also increase, etc.
>
> On the other hand, if a female mates with only one male, even a really
> good quality one, if environmental conditions change, then the offspring
> might not be well suited to the new conditions and may not survive to
> maturity. However, if environmental conditions are unchanging, then
> mating with the best (fittest for the current conditions) available male
> will produce the greatest number of surviving offspring.
>
> Similarly, under certain circumstances, young will be more likely to
> survive if they have more than one carer, i.e. both mother and father
> (and sometimes older siblings as well). These survivors will inherit the
> capacity to care for young in a socially stable partnership along with
> whatever mating system was employed by their parents (single or multiple
> partners).
>
> It's all about inheritance and survival.
>
> Cheers,
> Merrilyn
>
>
> Belinda Cassidy wrote:
>> Hi Kurtis, John, Rosemary, Storm, and everyone,
>>
>> I must apologise for being so curt. I don't know whats got into me
>> today;
>> anyway I didn't mean to put everyone off side. Its been an emotional
>> week
>> for me and I guess I sprung a leak.
>>
>> I think we all agree that the scientific evidence demonstrates that some
>> birds pair for life, and some do not. I don't even know why this is
>> being
>> hotly debated, but like I said, I have my suspicions as to the reasons.
>> You're right though Kurtis, suspicions are not the same as scientific
>> fact.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Bel
>>
>>
>
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