The Ruff

Johan G. Van Rhijn (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

224 Seiten

2010
T & AD Poyser (Verlag)
978-1-4081-3678-2 (ISBN)

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The Ruff is a fascinating species whose elaborate breeding behaviour has captivated ornithologists for decades. Their communal display grounds, or leks, provide an extreme example of a social system widespread in birds and other animals, in which brilliantly plumaged males seemingly compete for the attention of passing females. In this book, Johan van Rhijn explores this complex and intricate drama, both to lay bare the details of the players' private lives, and to provide a means of exploring the wider variety of wader breeding systems. Strands of evidence for all aspects of the Ruffs life, in and out of the breeding season, come together to give a thought-provoking insight into this important area of biology. Specialists and birdwatchers alike will have much to learn from this intriguing story and the insights it provides. Illustrated by Ian Willis

Johan G. Van Rhijn is the author of the Poyser monograph The Ruff.

Preface

1 Introduction

2 The Pugnacious Father
2.1 The lek site
2.2 Territories
2.3 Satellite males
2.4 Marginal males
2.5 Plumage diversity
2.6 Females on leks
2.7 Mating
2.8 Alternative male strategies

3 The Vigilant Mother
3.1 Breeding habitat
3.2 Parental care
3.3. Development of the chicks

4 Indolence or Diligence?
4.1 Distribution
4.2 Diet and foraging
4.3 Moult
4.4 Migration
4.5 Costs and time-schedules
4.6 Do females nest near the leks which they visit?

5 Comparison and Evolution
5.1 Taxonomic relationships
5.2 Courtship and mating pattern
5.3 Variation in size and plumage
5.4 The ancestors and their contrasting social lives

Epilogue
List of bird names mentioned in the text
Selected bibliography
Index

Erscheint lt. Verlag	30.10.2010
Reihe/Serie	Poyser Monographs
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 234 mm
Gewicht	429 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Naturführer
Themenwelt	Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
ISBN-10	1-4081-3678-3 / 1408136783
ISBN-13	978-1-4081-3678-2 / 9781408136782
Zustand	Neuware