On the variability of alligator sex ratios
Samples of alligators from wild and 'farm' populations exhibited disproportionate sex ratios. Males predominated among young alligators from wild populations, whereas females were much more abundant than males in the farm population, where resources were superabundant. These results and other considerations lead us to hypothesize that environmental factors influence sex determination in alligators. During favorable environmental conditions natural selection is expected to favor a preponderance of the sex whose individuals exhibit the greater environmentally associated variation in relative fitness. We hypothesize that environmentally associated variation in age at sexual maturity of females produces sufficient variation in relative fitness of females to result in selection for low sex ratios during periods of resource abundance.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 1980 |
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Title | On the variability of alligator sex ratios |
DOI | 10.1086/283615 |
Authors | James D. Nichols, R. H. Chabreck |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | American Naturalist |
Index ID | 5221578 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |