Environmental variation: the effects on vertebrate mating systems with special reference to ectotherms

Dyson, Miranda L. (2000). Environmental variation: the effects on vertebrate mating systems with special reference to ectotherms. In: Apollonio, Marco; Festa-Bianch, Marco and Mainardi, Danilo eds. Vertebrate Mating Systems: Proceedings of the 14th Course of the International School of Ethology. The Science and Culture Series - Ethology. London: World Scientific, pp. 140–157.

Abstract

This review addresses how the environment can cause a change in the mating pattern of a population through its direct effect on the potential reproductive rates of males and females and through environmentally mediated changes in the costs and benefits to individuals in choosing among mating partners. In addition, the way in which the environment can constrain the ability of individuals to mate with preferred partners by influencing the perceptual capabilities is also discussed. In ectotherms in particular, temperature and food availability determine to a large extent the PRR of individuals by influencing both the time needed to brood eggs and the time required to produce a clutch. This in turn effects the OSR of the population and ultimately, which sex competes. The sex with the higher PRR is the sex towards which the OSR is biased and is also the sex that has more to gain from competing for multiple mates. The relationship between the OSR and mate choice is less clear because environmental factors can set the costs and benefits to males and females in being choosy independently of the OSR.

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