Subject: Re: Ducks behavior.....
Date: Jan 24 14:15:20 1996
From: Eugene Hunn - hunn at u.washington.edu


Re point one: the logic applies only if the alternative strategy is
practiced rarely, or so as not to interfere with the cooperative rearing
strategy. Clearly this allows for an occasional extra copulation
without significantly reducing the positive payoffs associated with the
cooperative rearing strategy, but not a systematic program of maximizing
copulations.

Gene Hunn.

On Wed, 24 Jan 1996, Dennis Paulson wrote:

> Gene Hunn wrote:
>
> >The only problem arises if the "playboy" and "playgirl" genes are so
> >successful that neither sex takes care of the kids. The opposed strategy of
> >loyalty to one's mate and investment in the care of one's offspring
> >(quite certain for females, less so for males) has clearly provided
> >superior genetic payoffs on average for many birds (and for humans, for
> >that matter).
>
> Ah, but that's the point of what I was writing. A male bird can be a very
> effective parent, feeding and protecting its young with its full-time mate,
> and still pass on genes in additional ways. A female parent can be the
> same and still have offspring with better genes because she allows or
> encourages copulation with a male not her mate. In neither case is
> parenting reduced.
>
> Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
> Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
> University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
> Tacoma, WA 98416
>
>
>