Sexual Selection and the Barn Sallo [Paperback]

This informative book details the important effects sexual selection has on barn swallow mating behavior, mating competition, parental care, host-parasite interactions, and migration strategies. The first two chapters present a concise, insightful review of the two main components of sexual selection theory--male-male competition and female choice. Citing evidence from the author's long-term field work on the monogamous barn swallow, subsequent chapters investigate the advantages held by males with colorful plumage and by females who are choosy when selecting a mating partner. In his exploration of the roles of behavior, ecology, morphology, genetics, and evolution, M?ller provides an invaluable synthesis of barn swallow mating behavior research. Students and researchers of ecology, animal behavior, ornithology, and evolutionary biology will welcome this book.

1. Introduction
1.1. What is Sexual Selection?
1.2. A Brief History of Sexual Selection
1.3. Why is Sexual Selection Interesting?
1.4. The Role of Sexual Selection in Animal Life
1.5. Evolution Versus Maintenance of Sexual Displays
1.6. Outline of the Book
1.7. Summary
2. Models of Sexual Selection and Monogamy
2.1. Introduction
2.2. The Two Modes of Sexual Selection
2.3. Models of Male-Male Competition
2.4. Models of Mate Preferences
2.5. Sexual Selection and Monogamy
2.6. Summary
3. The Study Organism
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Morphology of the Barn Swallow
3.3. Natural History of the Barn Swallow
3.4. Sexual Behavior of Barn Swallows
3.5. Constraints on Evolution of Secondary Sexual Characters
3.6. Study Methods
3.7. Summary
4. Male Mating Advantages
4.1. Introduction
4.2. Components of Sexual Selection
4.3. Evaluation of Sexual Selection Components
4.4. Relative Importance of Mating Advantages
4.5. Summary
5. Benefits of Mate Choice
5.1. Introduction
5.2. Theory of Mate Preferences
5.3. Female Mate Prefel£b