Mate guarding tactics used by Great Crested Flycatchers

摘要

To counter female infidelity, male birds have evolved several behaviors which increase their probability of paternity. Mate guarding may be defined as any behavior by a mated male whose principal function is to decrease the likelihood of his mate copulating with other males during the period when her eggs can be fertilized (Birkhead 1979, Beecher and Beecher 1979, Hatch 1987). Most studies of mate guarding focus on following behavior. Mate guarding is inferred from following behavior if males follow their mates more often when the females are fertile than when they are non-fertile (e.g., Gowaty and Plissner 1987). Territoriality may also function as mate guarding. By defending a larger breeding territory during his mate's fertile period, a male increases the distance between his mate and intruding males (Moller 1990; but see Dunn 1992).