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Intrasexual competition among polygynously mated female starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

Smith, Henrik G. LU ; Ottosson, Ulf LU and Sandell, Maria LU (1994) In Behavioral Ecology 5. p.57-63
Abstract
In southern Sweden, the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has a variable mating system with some males mating monogamously and others attracting several females. Mating status affected the reproductive success of females: monogamous and primary females laid larger clutches and fledged more and heavier young than secondary females. This pattern was explained by female competition for male help, with the male primarily helping the offspring of highest value (i.e., the oldest brood). However, when the nesting attempt of the primary female failed, the success of the secondary female increased to the same level as that for primary and monogamous females. The success of the secondary female in terms of fledging success and fledgling size was higher... (More)
In southern Sweden, the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has a variable mating system with some males mating monogamously and others attracting several females. Mating status affected the reproductive success of females: monogamous and primary females laid larger clutches and fledged more and heavier young than secondary females. This pattern was explained by female competition for male help, with the male primarily helping the offspring of highest value (i.e., the oldest brood). However, when the nesting attempt of the primary female failed, the success of the secondary female increased to the same level as that for primary and monogamous females. The success of the secondary female in terms of fledging success and fledgling size was higher when the secondary female hatched her eggs soon after the primary female. This was due to the fact that a male divided his effort between his broods when the age difference between broods was small (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
POLYGYNY THRESHOLD
in
Behavioral Ecology
volume
5
pages
57 - 63
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:0028178658
ISSN
1045-2249
DOI
10.1093/beheco/5.1.57
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d4effee7-e904-4c8b-aefc-9ebd8ba191b2
date added to LUP
2017-07-11 09:24:15
date last changed
2024-01-14 00:32:12
@article{d4effee7-e904-4c8b-aefc-9ebd8ba191b2,
  abstract     = {{In southern Sweden, the starling (Sturnus vulgaris) has a variable mating system with some males mating monogamously and others attracting several females. Mating status affected the reproductive success of females: monogamous and primary females laid larger clutches and fledged more and heavier young than secondary females. This pattern was explained by female competition for male help, with the male primarily helping the offspring of highest value (i.e., the oldest brood). However, when the nesting attempt of the primary female failed, the success of the secondary female increased to the same level as that for primary and monogamous females. The success of the secondary female in terms of fledging success and fledgling size was higher when the secondary female hatched her eggs soon after the primary female. This was due to the fact that a male divided his effort between his broods when the age difference between broods was small}},
  author       = {{Smith, Henrik G. and Ottosson, Ulf and Sandell, Maria}},
  issn         = {{1045-2249}},
  keywords     = {{POLYGYNY THRESHOLD}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{57--63}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Behavioral Ecology}},
  title        = {{Intrasexual competition among polygynously mated female starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/5.1.57}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/beheco/5.1.57}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{1994}},
}