Size Does Not Matter - No Evidence for Assortative Mating by Body Size in the Mute Swan Cygnus olor

• Autorzy: Włodarczyk R. , Minias P. , Janiszewski T.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.3161/15052249PJE2016.64.2.013

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Finding a mate of high quality is of key importance for reproducing birds, and thus positive assortative mating is commonly observed in avian populations. Although assortative mating by age, body size, condition or ornamental traits was reported for many bird taxa, there is a scarcity of empirical evidence for such mating patterns in wildfowl. We studied mating patterns in the Mute Swan Cygnus olor from the Central-European population. We analysed four body measurements (total wing length, forearm length, head length, foot web width) in 91 different breeding pairs. Contrary to our expectations, we found no evidence for assortative mating by any of the collected biometrical measurements and by overall structural size (PC1 from all measured skeletal traits). Further, Mute Swans mated randomly by the size of bill knob, which is considered a sexually selected ornament in this species. We suggest that in the species with long-term pair bonds and monogamous breeding system, such as the Mute Swan, the benefits from large size of mates may be less important for positive reproductive output than other individual traits, e.g., age or previous breeding experience.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

body size; Cygnus olor; mate preferences; Mute Swan; sexual ornamentation

PL

rozmiar ciała; Cygnus olor; łabędź niemy; preferencje w doborze partnera; ornamentyka seksualna

• Wydawca: Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences
• Czasopismo: Polish Journal of Ecology
• Rocznik: 2016
• Tom: Vol. 64, nr 2
• Strony: 296--301
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 40 poz., tab., wykr.

Twórcy

autor

Włodarczyk R.

• Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland

autor

Minias P.

• Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland

autor

Janiszewski T.

• Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, University of Łódź, Banacha 1/3, 90-237 Łódź, Poland

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Uwagi

Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę.