Sexual selection for a handicap: A critical analysis of Zahavi's model

Davis, John W.; O'Donald, Peter

doi:10.1016/0022-5193(76)90006-0

Cited by 73 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…It has generally been claimed that good genes models of sexual selection could not work. First, because of a presumed lack of additive genetic variance in fitness (Fisher, 1930;Gustafsson, 1986); and second, because models based on good genes arguments have failed to show any significant effects on the evolution of male ornaments other than those already predicted by Fisher's process (Maynard Smith, 1976;Davis and O'Donald, 1976;Kirkpatrick, 1986a). Recent modeling, based on the assumption that additive genetic variation is being maintained by host-parasite cycles or by mutation, has confirmed that sexual ornaments may become exaggerated because of female choice of superior genotypes (Kirkpatrick, 1986b;Pomiankowski, 1987Pomiankowski, , 1988.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

EFFECTS OF A HAEMATOPHAGOUS MITE ON THE BARN SWALLOW (HIRUNDO RUSTICA): A TEST OF THE HAMILTON AND ZUK HYPOTHESIS

Møller

1990

Evolution

122

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Abstract.-I tested three assumptions of the Hamilton and Zuk hypothesis (1982), which suggests that the extravagant male plumage of many bird species allows females to choose mates that are resistant to the parasites exploiting the host population at a given time. By choosing such males as mates, females will rear offspring carrying the genes for resistance. I tested three necessary conditions for the Hamilton and Zuk model: (1) whether parasites affect the fitness of their hosts; (2) whether there is heritable variation in parasite resistance, and (3) whether the expression of the sexual ornament varies with parasite burden. The haematophagous mite Ornithonyssus bursa (Macronyssidae, Gamasida) sucks blood from their Bam Swallow (Hirundo rustica) hosts. Experimental manipulation of mite loads and partial cross-fostering experiments on Bam Swallows, where half of the nestlings in the brood were exchanged with nestlings from another nest, shows that parasite burdens and origin, but not rearing conditions, of Bam Swallow nestlings, affected their adult tarsus length and maximum body weight shortly before fledging. Mite loads of adult Bam Swallows at spring arrival were more similar to mite loads of their own offspring, whether reared in their own or in foster nests inoculated with mites, than to loads offoster offspring. Parent Bam Swallows with long tail ornaments had offspring with smaller mite loads in the partial crossfostering experiments. The amount of increase in male tail ornaments from one year to another was negatively related to experimentally manipulated mite loads of Bam Swallow nests during the preceding breeding season. In conclusion, the three assumptions ofthe hypothesis were supported by the experimental tests.

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confidence: 99%

EFFECTS OF A HAEMATOPHAGOUS MITE ON THE BARN SWALLOW (HIRUNDO RUSTICA): A TEST OF THE HAMILTON AND ZUK HYPOTHESIS

Møller

1990

Evolution

122

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“…A longer passage in the opening paragraph of this letter discloses some of his discomfort with a formal style of theorizing: ''The model of the handicap principle has been disputed by Maynard Smith (1976) and Davis and O'Donald (1976). They claimed on the basis of mathematical models that the handicap principle cannot operate under normal conditions.…”

Section: The Handicap Principlementioning

confidence: 87%

“…Early critics of the handicap principle were Maynard Smith (1976) and Davis and O'Donald (1976). Maynard Smith argued that for such a principle to work, it was a necessary condition that the inheritance of the handicap was limited to the sex displaying the handicap, in order to avoid that this fitness cost would be given to offspring of the mate choosing sex.…”

Section: The Handicap Principlementioning

confidence: 98%

The handicap principle and the argument of subversion from within

Baron

2013

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part C: Studies in

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“…While these mathematical developments have demonstrated that the principle is not inconsistent with biological theory (contrary to early analyses, see Davis and O'donald 1976;Smith 1976;Kirkpatrick 1986), they do not eliminate the possibility that other mechanisms may be at work. This paper provides an overview of the alternative theories available to explain the presence of signaling, especially when the interests of the communicating parties conflict.…”

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confidence: 89%