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The cost of polygyny - definitions and applications

Bensch, Staffan LU (1997) In Journal of Avian Biology 28(4). p.345-352
Abstract
The polygyny threshold model was introduced in the 1960s in order to explain why females in some species choose to mate vith already mated males. Since then, a number of complementary or alternative hypotheses have been suggested. By using a hierarchical testing approach Searcy and Yasukawa (1989) organised the models that proposed to explain the maintenance of territorial polygyny. Here, I point out that there is no true way to organise the models, and that the organisation itself may influence which explanation the observations mill support. In particular, I discuss Searcy and Yasukawa's distinction between cost and no-cost models. As an alternative to the hierarchical approach I suggest careful comparisons of those variables that... (More)
The polygyny threshold model was introduced in the 1960s in order to explain why females in some species choose to mate vith already mated males. Since then, a number of complementary or alternative hypotheses have been suggested. By using a hierarchical testing approach Searcy and Yasukawa (1989) organised the models that proposed to explain the maintenance of territorial polygyny. Here, I point out that there is no true way to organise the models, and that the organisation itself may influence which explanation the observations mill support. In particular, I discuss Searcy and Yasukawa's distinction between cost and no-cost models. As an alternative to the hierarchical approach I suggest careful comparisons of those variables that inflict costs of sharing with those that provide compensation. While the hierarchical approach may put very similar systems in different model families, a cost and benefit evaluation might instead show that the difference is quantitative rather than qualitative. Also, an identical cost of polygyny can arise from several different combinations of costs of sharing and benefits of sharing. Hence, the hierarchical approach may put systems with different mechanisms behind polygyny into the same model family. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
red-winged blackbirds, great reed warbler, male parental care, reproductive success, threshold-model, agelaius-phoeniceus, acrocephalus-arundinaceus, nest predation, mating systems, mate-choice
in
Journal of Avian Biology
volume
28
issue
4
pages
345 - 352
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:0030690238
ISSN
0908-8857
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d6ad20c6-80fc-4c20-8868-9ace19a29bf4 (old id 1747523)
alternative location
http://www.jstor.org/stable/3676949
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:10:34
date last changed
2022-02-03 18:39:29
@article{d6ad20c6-80fc-4c20-8868-9ace19a29bf4,
  abstract     = {{The polygyny threshold model was introduced in the 1960s in order to explain why females in some species choose to mate vith already mated males. Since then, a number of complementary or alternative hypotheses have been suggested. By using a hierarchical testing approach Searcy and Yasukawa (1989) organised the models that proposed to explain the maintenance of territorial polygyny. Here, I point out that there is no true way to organise the models, and that the organisation itself may influence which explanation the observations mill support. In particular, I discuss Searcy and Yasukawa's distinction between cost and no-cost models. As an alternative to the hierarchical approach I suggest careful comparisons of those variables that inflict costs of sharing with those that provide compensation. While the hierarchical approach may put very similar systems in different model families, a cost and benefit evaluation might instead show that the difference is quantitative rather than qualitative. Also, an identical cost of polygyny can arise from several different combinations of costs of sharing and benefits of sharing. Hence, the hierarchical approach may put systems with different mechanisms behind polygyny into the same model family.}},
  author       = {{Bensch, Staffan}},
  issn         = {{0908-8857}},
  keywords     = {{red-winged blackbirds; great reed warbler; male parental care; reproductive success; threshold-model; agelaius-phoeniceus; acrocephalus-arundinaceus; nest predation; mating systems; mate-choice}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{345--352}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Avian Biology}},
  title        = {{The cost of polygyny - definitions and applications}},
  url          = {{http://www.jstor.org/stable/3676949}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}