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| LEK SIZE, MALE MATING SKEW AND THE EVOLUTION OF LEKKING |
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| Author(s): WIDEMO F, OWENS IPF |
| Source: NATURE Volume: 373 Issue: 6510 Pages: 148-151 Published: JAN 12 1995 |
| Times Cited: 76 References: 16 |
| Abstract: DESPITE extensive theoretical effort(1,8), the evolution of lekking as a mating system remains a controversial issue(9,10). Leks are nonresource-based matins aggregations(2), but may also be regarded as patches differing in female encounter rate(2,3,5,7). We report here a new distribution model that incorporates variation in male mating skew with lek size. The model predicts that, under specified conditions, high-ranking males have smaller optimal lek sizes than low-ranking males. All males benefit from initial clustering, but only low-ranking males gain from large aggregations. This generates progressive clustering around high-ranking males at hotspots determined by female spatial distributions. The predictions of our model were validated in two ways using empirical data on lekking ruffs, Philomachus pugnax. Our model integrates the basic elements of the previously competing hotspot(2,3) and hotshot(4) models of lek evolution by a simple mechanism, and could explain the evolution of lekking. |
| Document Type: Article |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: WIDEMO, F (reprint author), UPPSALA UNIV, DEPT ZOOL, ANIM ECOL SECT, VILLAVAGEN 9, S-75236 UPPSALA, SWEDEN |
Addresses:
1. ZOOL SOC LONDON, INST ZOOL, LONDON NW1 4RY, ENGLAND
2. UNIV LONDON UNIV COLL, DEPT GENET & BIOMETRY, LONDON NW1 2HE, ENGLAND |
| Publisher: MACMILLAN MAGAZINES LTD, 4 LITTLE ESSEX STREET, LONDON, ENGLAND WC2R 3LF |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: QB063 |
| ISSN: 0028-0836 |
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