Offspring sex ratios in relation to mutual ornamentation and extra-pair paternity in the Black Swan Cygnus atratus |
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Authors: | KEN KRAAIJEVELD ,MA MING,JAN KOMDEUR,& RAOUL A. MULDER |
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Affiliation: | Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia; Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, P.R. China; Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, Biological Centre, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | In sexually dichromatic birds, females may adaptively adjust the sex ratio of their offspring prior to hatching in relation to male ornamentation, for example, by producing more sons when paired to a highly attractive partner. However, to our knowledge no studies have investigated offspring sex ratio modification in species in which both sexes are ornamented, and it is unknown whether such a process would be adaptive. Here we examine variation in offspring sex ratio in the mutually ornamented Black Swan Cygnus atratus . Brood sex ratio was not related to the degree of ornament elaboration in either parent, or to extra-pair paternity. We suggest that parental attractiveness may not be inherited in a sex-linked manner, or may be largely non-heritable. Thus, females may not benefit from biasing the sex ratio of their offspring in relation to parental attractiveness. |
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