Sperm Competition in Birds: Evolutionary Causes and Consequences

Sperm competition is a central part of sexual selection and will therefore be of interest to all behavioral ecologists since the topics discussed here include many that are applicable to other animal groups.The text is supportedby numerous photographs, diagrams, tables, and outstanding illustrations by David Quinn. Sperm Competition in Birds addressess the following topics:Both functional and causal aspects of the subjectThe importance of sperm competition in different avian mating systemsThe relationship between sperm competition and male and female reproductive anatomy and physiology, copulation patterns, and paternity guardsThe costs and benefits of copulating with multiple partners for both males and femalesThe relationship between multiple mating and paternity, and the far-reaching evolutionary consequences of sperm competition