Skilful mating? Insights from animal contest research

• Published in: Animal behaviour Vol. 184; pp. 197 - 207
• Main Authors: Lane, Sarah M., Briffa, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: animal behavior; animals; conflict; contest behaviour; courtship; dynamic repeated behaviour; fighting; limited resource; ownership; reproductive behaviour; reproductive success; signalling; skill; sperm competition; limited resource; skill; reproductive behaviour; fighting; contest behaviour; dynamic repeated behaviour; signalling; conflict

Whenever resources are limited and indivisible, fighting will evolve as a means to resolve ownership. Among such resources are mates, and individuals (usually males) of many species compete agonistically with rivals in order to gain access to potential mates. However, securing access is not necessar...