https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/04/27/enigmatic-sex-ration-in-a-near/ Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:22 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.8 https://gregladen.com/blog/2008/04/27/enigmatic-sex-ration-in-a-near/#comment-7211 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:22 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2008/04/27/enigmatic-sex-ration-in-a-near/#comment-7211 Something is odd here. The fact that most of the non-breeders are male would suggest that other males had harems, but on the other hand we are told that the sex ratio of breeding adults is even so this can’t be the case. The sex-ratio of chicks is the same too so it isn’t skewed from the start. The only explanation I can think of is higher female mortality leaving an excess male population unable to find a mate.But then we are told “Their calls are too spread out to attract the infrequent females which pass by”. If there is an excess of males there won’t be enough females for everyone, no matter the population density! The fact that the ratio of unmated adults is as skewed as it is suggest that they are very efficient at pairing up. Almost all females do after all find a mate.

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