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The Evolution of Bower‐building and the Assessment of Male Quality
Author(s) -
Borgia Gerald,
PruettJones Stephen G.,
PruettJones Melinda A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1985.tb01391.x
Subject(s) - sire , dominance (genetics) , selection (genetic algorithm) , sexual selection , quality (philosophy) , evolutionary biology , biology , ecology , computer science , artificial intelligence , genetics , epistemology , zoology , philosophy , gene
and Summary A hypothesis is proposed for explaining the evolution of display courts in birds. We suggest that males who show ownership of display courts are better able to inform females of their high dominance status, which is an indicator of their quality as a sire. The elaborate display structures of bowerbirds are viewed as an extreme example of selection to show ownership of these “markers”. Specific problems with the evolution of bowers are considered.