The Power of Sex: Making Males Change for Their Mates
Animals are incredibly sensitive to the world around them. Animals can get nervous when a large storm is coming or if a stranger enters their territory. When the seasons change, some migrate to distant lands while others hunker down and prepare for whatever is coming. But what if animals are even more connected to their world than we think? And what if this connection is the key to the animals’ progress in evolution? In a recent study, researchers have put this connection to the test by observing the effects of global warming on the migration patterns of birds. According to the results many birds are beginning to migrate earlier than in previous years, especially in species that depend greatly on sexual selection.
This basic principle behind this theory is that the males of a species will need to stake their claim on territories for nesting and mating before the females arrive. The females are equally sensitive to the climate changes, but males of a very sexually selective species will be inclined to migrate earlier so as to get the best territory to optimize the mating process. Evolutionary ecologist Claire Spottiswoode and her team analyzed the migratory patterns of nine different species on two islands off the coast of Germany. They correlated data from published works about the species’ sexual tendencies with the time-shifts in the migratory patterns. By doing so, they were able to determine which species were more selective in choosing their mates.
All of the species that were examined had experienced shifts in migrations to an earlier timetable, especially in those that proved to be more sexually selective. These results demonstrate another aspect of natural selection. All animals are sensitive to their own environment; even the slightest of changes can upset their way of life. Those that respond and adapt to these disturbances, however, are perhaps the ones that have the greatest chance of surviving, flourishing, and evolving to fit the changing world around them.
Posted by BC (5)
posted by PWH @ 9:44 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
This was a very well written article and nice topic to choose. I was aware of the migration patterns changing in relation to climate, but it was interesting to see how that all correlated with mating. The only question I have is that the article said the migration period shifted forward for the species, so does that also mean that they migrate back at a different time? Or do they migrate back at the same time they used to, but just spend more time in the area they migrate to?
Posted by TML
Very interesting insight into sexual selection working with global forces. I still can't believe they actually measure the gonads.. Anyways, as well as observing the evolutionary process in action, I felt this research had some other applications as well. When I first read it I kept thinking about bird flu and how scientists could use this information to predict and perhaps prevent the movement of bird flu across the globe. Perhaps if there was a way to screen large groups of these birds for the virus, something significant can be done in monitoring the patterns.
Posted by Tony
I found this article to be very interesting and well-written. The article on the birds was very intesting as well and had a lot to do with what we are talking about in class. You hit the points of their article without making the entry too long or too wordy. My only question is, did you find any other articles that agreed or disagreed with this study?
I enjoyed reaing about this study, but found it surprising that the researchers were able to observe changes in migration over only twenty years, since climate change is so gradual. The other thing that occurred to me reading this post was wondering whether traits other than migration time might also be more sensitive to environmental changes in species with greater sexual competition. It certainly points to a real competitive advantage of faster evolution that the species who put so much effort into sexual competition have.
Posted by Jonathan Caplan
This article is really interesting. Nice job!
Posted by MIS
This article has a fascinating insight on the behavior of birds and their migration. It is interesting how males
could have such a sexual instinct that drive them to migrate earlier. Moreover, all these behaviors correlated to evolution and such. I enjoyed reading this blog and are looking forward to related upcoming blogs.
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