Maternal investment - Sex differences in avian yolk hormone levels - Reply

被引：18

作者：

Cunningham, EJA ^{[1
]}

Russell, AF ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Univ Cambridge, Dept Zool, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, England

来源：

NATURE | 2001年 / 412卷 / 6846期

关键词：

D O I：

10.1038/35087655

中图分类号：

O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];

学科分类号：

07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;

摘要：

Female birds may invest more in breeding attempts when paired with preferred males and may consequently produce chicks that are in better condition1. But if females favour one sex when mated to preferred males, either in quantity2,3 or quality, could this explain these differences in investment? We have shown that female mallards lay larger eggs for preferred males but do not produce more sons1. This increased investment is not directed at one particular sex, and here we point out the importance of distinguishing between differential investment in the sexes per se, as suggested by Petrie et al., and differential investment in the sexes for different males.

引用

页码：498 / 499

页数：2