Courtship Without Copulation

Females commonly visit the bowers of on average three males before copulatig in a single season. About 80% of females mate with one male. Some females who have mated with a top males search less and return to that male for copulating in subsequent years while others shop more among males (Uy, A., Patricelli, G. and Borgia, G. 2000. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 267: 251- 256). Shopping females can become agitated during the mechanical portion of the male and may move in and out of the bower and may leave if the courtship is too intense. Males are able to adjust their display in relation to the degree of discomfort shown by females and succesful males lower the intensity of calls when females are agitated. Generally, successful males have more decorations on their bowers, have better bower quality (Borgia, G. 1985. Animal Behaviour 33: 266-271), have fewere parasites (Borgia, G. and Collis, K. 1990. American Zoologist 30: 279-285) and are able to respond to females signals of discomfort (Patricelli GL, Coleman SW, Borgia G. 2006. Anim. Behaviour 71: 49-59).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Bowerbird