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From: wmartin@brl-smoke.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.bio
Subject: Evolutionary advantages of monogamy
Message-ID: <1334@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 26-Feb-86 15:22:37 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.1334
Posted: Wed Feb 26 15:22:37 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Mar-86 19:48:35 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: USAMC ALMSA, St. Louis, MO
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Inspired by an overindulgence in watching animal and nature progams on PBS,
I've been trying to think of why some species would evolve (or maintain)
a pattern of monogamous mating. I can think of evolutionary advantages
to having new matings each season, for example based on competition
between males so that the strongest fertilizes as many females as he can
dominate or defend from other males. When it comes to species that are
monogamous (mating for life, or, I suppose, until one of the pair dies),
like some varieties of geese, eagles, beavers, etc., though, I find it
hard to think of equivalently-good arguments to support this behavior
having evolved and continued. Are there some "standard" explanations
for this that I just don't know?

Regards,
Will Martin

UUCP/USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin   or   ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA