The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals

Mark, Alan MCGINLEY

    Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › Research › peer-review

    43 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The question of adaptive sex ratio manipulation in higher vertebrates remains a controversial issue. Trivers and Willard (1973) proposed that facultative adjustment of the sex ratio could be adaptive when the mother can produce an excess of the more profitable sex. They emphasized that "natural selection should favor parental ability to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring according to their ability to invest" (p. 90). Generally, it has been assumed that strong mothers invest more per offspring, and should preferentially produce males in species with polygynous or promiscuous mating systems. Conversely, it has been assumed that weak females invest less per offspring, and should therefore bias their offspring sex ratio toward females.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)597-599
    Number of pages3
    JournalAmerican Naturalist
    Volume124
    Issue number4
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 1984

    Fingerprint

    sex ratio
    fitness
    animal
    animals
    natural selection
    mating systems
    reproductive strategy
    vertebrate
    vertebrates
    gender

    Cite this

    MCGINLEY, Mark, Alan. / The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals. In: American Naturalist. 1984 ; Vol. 124, No. 4. pp. 597-599.
    @article{e4d590a54e914e8e9070829383b20c19,
    title = "The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals",
    abstract = "The question of adaptive sex ratio manipulation in higher vertebrates remains a controversial issue. Trivers and Willard (1973) proposed that facultative adjustment of the sex ratio could be adaptive when the mother can produce an excess of the more profitable sex. They emphasized that {"}natural selection should favor parental ability to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring according to their ability to invest{"} (p. 90). Generally, it has been assumed that strong mothers invest more per offspring, and should preferentially produce males in species with polygynous or promiscuous mating systems. Conversely, it has been assumed that weak females invest less per offspring, and should therefore bias their offspring sex ratio toward females.",
    author = "MCGINLEY, {Mark, Alan}",
    year = "1984",
    month = "10",
    day = "1",
    language = "English",
    volume = "124",
    pages = "597--599",
    journal = "American Naturalist",
    issn = "0003-0147",
    publisher = "University of Chicago",
    number = "4",

    }

    MCGINLEY, MA 1984, 'The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals', American Naturalist, vol. 124, no. 4, pp. 597-599.

    The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals. / MCGINLEY, Mark, Alan.

    In: American Naturalist, Vol. 124, No. 4, 01.10.1984, p. 597-599.

    Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › Research › peer-review

    TY - JOUR

    T1 - The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals

    AU - MCGINLEY, Mark, Alan

    PY - 1984/10/1

    Y1 - 1984/10/1

    N2 - The question of adaptive sex ratio manipulation in higher vertebrates remains a controversial issue. Trivers and Willard (1973) proposed that facultative adjustment of the sex ratio could be adaptive when the mother can produce an excess of the more profitable sex. They emphasized that "natural selection should favor parental ability to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring according to their ability to invest" (p. 90). Generally, it has been assumed that strong mothers invest more per offspring, and should preferentially produce males in species with polygynous or promiscuous mating systems. Conversely, it has been assumed that weak females invest less per offspring, and should therefore bias their offspring sex ratio toward females.

    AB - The question of adaptive sex ratio manipulation in higher vertebrates remains a controversial issue. Trivers and Willard (1973) proposed that facultative adjustment of the sex ratio could be adaptive when the mother can produce an excess of the more profitable sex. They emphasized that "natural selection should favor parental ability to adjust the sex ratio of their offspring according to their ability to invest" (p. 90). Generally, it has been assumed that strong mothers invest more per offspring, and should preferentially produce males in species with polygynous or promiscuous mating systems. Conversely, it has been assumed that weak females invest less per offspring, and should therefore bias their offspring sex ratio toward females.

    UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/2461600

    UR - http://commons.ln.edu.hk/sw_master/4759

    M3 - Journal Article (refereed)

    VL - 124

    SP - 597

    EP - 599

    JO - American Naturalist

    JF - American Naturalist

    SN - 0003-0147

    IS - 4

    ER -

    MCGINLEY MA. The adaptive value of male-biased sex ratios in stressed animals. American Naturalist. 1984 Oct 1;124(4):597-599.

    Access to Document