In 'Birds, Sex & Beauty,' Matt Ridley examines the mating behaviors of the black grouse, focusing on their lekking rituals where males vie for female attention. Through years of observation, Ridley delves into sexual selection, highlighting how traits that attract mates can come at a significant survival cost. He draws parallels with other species, such as peacocks, to illustrate the tension between reproduction and survival. Ridley's narrative combines natural history with engaging storytelling as he seeks to understand the evolutionary implications of these behaviors.
For the black grouse, weeks of infighting build up to a crucial few days, when females patrol the lek and choose a mate - usually one near the centre.
Evolutionary biologists have long understood that some traits are associated with reproduction, and others with survival - and that the two are often at odds.
Ridley is interested in how such characteristics evolve. What exactly, he asks, are these male traits signalling, and what are the females choosing?
Birds, Sex & Beauty intertwines Ridley's love of natural history with a blend of popular science and travel writing to explore sexual selection in birds.
Collection
[
|
...
]