So what word/phrase would you use instead of rape?
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of
Sent: Tuesday, 20 May 2008 2:27 PM
To: Merrilyn Serong
Cc:
Subject: Partners
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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