Cooperation and conflict among dunnocks, Prunella modularis, in a variable mating system

摘要: Abstract The mating system of a population 90 breeding dunnocks (or hedge sparrow, Prunella modularis ) included monogamy, polygyny, polyandry and polygynandry. Monogamous males guarded females during their fertile period to prevent neighbouring from copulating. most intense guarding occurred where two (unrelated) shared territory. Here, the alpha male tried beta copulating with female. Beta were seen copulate in only half cases. They more likely succeed when found it difficult guard female closely because her range was large, vegetation dense or there other synchronously on same Close chasing by reduced female's feeding rate correlated unhatched eggs nest. Females attempted escape male's attentions actively encouraged mate. helped feed young if they copulated Nestlings fed got food weighed than those just one Indirect evidence suggested that failed copulate, destroyed chicks. laid larger clutches mated them as opposed one, thus adapting clutch size amount parental care expected. results natural removal experiments matched comparisons different systems support these conclusions. For females, selection favours cooperative polyandry, whereas for polygyny; variable may reflect outcomes this sexual conflict.