The Evolution of Parental Care

Synthesizing studies of parental care in a wide variety of animals, this book is the first attempt to provide general answers to the following important questions: Why does the extent of parental care vary so widely between species? Why do only females care for eggs and young in some animals, only males in others, and both parents in a few? To what extent is parental care adjusted to variation in its benefits to offspring and its costs to parents? How do parents divide their resources between their sons and daughters? In this book separate chapters examine the evolution of variation in egg and neonate size, of viviparity and other forms of bearing, and of differences in the duration of incubation, gestation, and lactation. The book reviews theoretical and empirical predictions concerning the evolution of parental care and examines the extent to which these are supported by empirical evidence. The author examines the distribution of parental care among offspring, reviews the empirical evidence that parents invest to different extents in their sons and daughters, and discusses the degree to which parents manipulate the sex ratio of their progeny in relation to the availability of resources.

About the author

T. H. Clutton-Brock

Summary

Synthesizing studies of parental care in a wide variety of animals, this book provides general answers to the following important questions: Why does the extent of parental care vary so widely between species? Why do only females care for eggs and young in some animals, only males in others, and both parents in a few?

Additional text

"Clutton-Brock's book is a lucidly written and comprehensive review of the literature. It is an essential guide for those who wish to know who cares and how in the animal kingdom."

Product details

• Authors: T. H. Clutton-Brock, T.H. Clutton-Brock, T. Clutton-Brock, Tim H. Clutton-Brock
• Assisted by: John Krebs (Editor), T. Clutton-Brock (Editor)
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 31.12.1991
• Subject: Education and learning > Teaching preparation > Vocational needs; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Genetics, genetic engineering
• EAN: 9780691025162
• ISBN: 978-0-691-02516-2
• Pages: 368
• Dimensions (packing): 15.5 x 23.5 x 2.4 cm
• Series: Monographs in Behavior and Eco; Monographs in Behavior and Ecology
• Subjects: Nest, Embryo, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Zoology / General, Evolution, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Ecology, female, bird, Applied ecology, WEANING, Egg, Longevity, Offspring, Fertility, Fertilisation, Reproduction, gestation, Mammal, Birth, Animal Ecology, Zoology and animal sciences, Natural selection, caregiver, Predation, Gamete, Sperm, sexual selection, sexual dimorphism, Parasitism, Reproductive success, Mate Choice, parental investment, mating, lactation, Reproductive System, mammary gland, Cooperative breeding, Fecundity, Sex ratio, Reproductive value (population genetics), Inbreeding, Larva, Asexual reproduction, Hatchling, Sexual reproduction, Brood parasite, Oviparity, Human sex ratio, Sex allocation, Intromittent organ, Directional selection, Spermatophore, Operational sex ratio, Spermatophylax, incubation period, Placentalia, Obligate, Paternal care, anisogamy, Altricial, prenatal development, Slit (gene family), Biological constraints, Crop milk, Internal fertilization, Ovoviviparity, Mouthbrooder, Fetus (biology), birth order, Parental care in birds, Gestation period, Viviparity, External fertilization, Egg incubation, Precocial, Brood pouch (Peracarida)