Breeding systems, climate, and the evolution of migration in shorebirds

• DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arp093
• Publication Date: 2009-07-03T02:56:28Z
• Authors: Gabriel E. García...; Gavin H. Thomas; John D. Reynolds; Tamás Székely
• Keywords: Paternal care; Geographical distance

Migratory behavior incurs energetic costs that may influence the time and energy available for reproduction including territory establishment, courtship, pair formation, incubation, brood care. Conversely formation parental care leave less migration other nonbreeding behaviors. Therefore, natural selection favoring migratory breeding system evolution vice versa. We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate relationships between distance wide diversity of systems in shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers allies). Consistent with previous studies, we show long-distance is associated reduced male across shorebird species. then use directional analyses test whether distances have tended increase or decrease over such evolutionary changes preceded followed transitions from short-distance coevolved full biparental Furthermore, our suggest increments are more likely reductions than also polygamy northern latitudes when latitude controlled statistically. Although this suggests mating systems, care, complex previously thought, results consistent hypothesis influences evolution.