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The Role Of Sexual Selection In Structuring West Indian Passerine Communities, C. Lynne Starling
The Role Of Sexual Selection In Structuring West Indian Passerine Communities, C. Lynne Starling
Legacy ETDs
Patterns of plumage dimorphism were examined among species of passerines native to 19 West Indian islands. Based on sexual selection theory, the predictions were made that dimorphic species: (1) occur on fewer and larger islands than monomorphic species due to reduced colonization ability and reduced survivorship imposed by sexual selection pressure, and (2) should be added to island communities disproportionately as area increases, an idea which was tested using linear models.
No significant difference was observed between number of islands or minimum island area occupied by dimorphics versus monomorphics. The traditional ANCOVA model best fits the data and suggests that …