Emerging issues in the evolution of animal nuptial gifts

Uniquely positioned at the intersection of sexual selection, nutritional ecology and life-history theory, nuptial gifts are widespread and diverse. Despite extensive empirical study, we still have only a rudimentary understanding of gift evolution because we lack a unified conceptual framework for c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biology letters (2005) 2014-07, Vol.10 (7), p.20140336-20140336
Main Authors: Lewis, Sara M., Vahed, Karim, Koene, Joris M., Engqvist, Leif, Bussière, Luc F., Perry, Jennifer C., Gwynne, Darryl, Lehmann, Gerlind U. C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Behaviour
Animals
Biological Evolution
Copulation
Female
Food
Gift Giving
Male
Reproduction - physiology
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Sexual Conflict
Simultaneous Hermaphrodite
Spermatophore
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Summary:Uniquely positioned at the intersection of sexual selection, nutritional ecology and life-history theory, nuptial gifts are widespread and diverse. Despite extensive empirical study, we still have only a rudimentary understanding of gift evolution because we lack a unified conceptual framework for considering these traits. In this opinion piece, we tackle several issues that we believe have substantively hindered progress in this area. Here, we: (i) present a comprehensive definition and classification scheme for nuptial gifts (including those transferred by simultaneous hermaphrodites), (ii) outline evolutionary predictions for different gift types, and (iii) highlight some research directions to help facilitate progress in this field.
ISSN:1744-9561
1744-957X
DOI:10.1098/rsbl.2014.0336