Polyamory in the wild (literally)

[mountaingirl]

I'm a career scientist, and all things science still fascinate me. I noticed today that there are three birds building a nest together on my balcony. Starting a funky thread for any articles or anecdotal evidence related to polyamory in nature

 

[mountaingirl]

Obviously, there are a ton of examples of polygamous males (especially in mammals), but I thought this article about the payoff of polyandry in sea turtles was interesting: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4393808/

 

[kdt26417]

In recent years, I heard of three bald eagles in an MFM V. There were photographs of them. It was pretty cool.

 

[mountaingirl]

In recent years, I heard of three bald eagles in an MFM V. There were photographs of them. It was pretty cool.

Sorry for the lateness! that's super interesting. I wonder if birds are more likely to be in Vs for some reason. Maybe it has something to do with sharing childcare duties.

 

[kdt26417]

Maybe

 

[Magdlyn]

Obviously there are a ton of examples of polygamous males (especially in mammals), but I thought this article about the payoff of polyandry in sea turtles was interesting: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4393808/

Some time back, I heard a show on NPR talking about all the recent research on promiscuity in pretty much every species of animals. No mammal or bird (not to mention reptiles or sea life) mate with one other, in a MF configuration, for life.

Yes, there are obvious tribes of great apes, like gorillas, or prides of lions, where it seems one male has several female mates, who are all loyal to him (until another male comes in to openly compete). But in every case of DNA studies of their offspring, there are always those who carry the DNA of other males. The females in every species will sneak off (if necessary) to mate with other males from other tribes/prides. The ones that seem monogamous will become pregnant by other males, but go back to raise the offspring with their life mate, or actual "nesting partner," haha.

Every single kind of animal is not monogamous. Every single kind of animal is promiscuous, even when males try to prevent it.

And then consider the oyster. They all start out as male, switch to female, breeding as both sexes, and sometimes switching back to male again.

 

[mountaingirl]

Some time back, I heard a show on NPR talking about all the recent research on promiscuity in pretty much every species of animals. No mammal or bird (not to mention reptiles or sea life) mate with one other, in a MF configuration, for life.

Yes, there are obvious tribes of great apes, like gorillas, or prides of lions, where it seems one male has several female mates, who are all loyal to him (until another male comes in to openly compete). But in every case of DNA studies of their offspring, there are always those who carry the DNA of other males. The females in every species will sneak off (if necessary) to mate with other males from other tribes/prides. The ones that seem monogamous will become pregnant by other males, but go back to raise the offspring with their life mate, or actual "nesting partner," haha.

Every single kind of animal is not monogamous. Every single kind of animal is promiscuous, even when males try to prevent it.

And then consider the oyster. They all start out as male, switch to female, breeding as both sexes, and sometimes switching back to male again.

I've been seeing stuff on this too! Some female animals even spontaneously abort their offspring (horses and lions are a great example) when a rival male takes over, but only if they haven't had a chance to "cover up" their pregnancy by having sex with the new guy in a certain time frame.

I've been reading this book called Eve, which goes through the last 200 million years of human evolution. Reading more about our evolutionary history makes female mammals seem way more promiscuous than modern human society would give them credit for, but it makes sense since females put so much energy into childbirth/rearing, that they would want to make sure they 1. have the best mate possible, but also 2. have someone to help take care of offspring.

I didn't know that about oysters! Super interesting.

 

[Magdlyn]

I've been seeing stuff on this too! Some female animals even spontaneously abort their offspring (horses and lions are a great example) when a rival male takes over, but only if they haven't had a chance to "cover up" their pregnancy by having sex with the new guy in a certain time frame.

I've been reading this book called Eve, which goes through the last 200 million years of human evolution. Reading more about our evolutionary history makes female mammals seem way more promiscuous than modern human society would give them credit for, but it makes sense, since females put so much energy into childbirth/rearing, that they would want to make sure they 1. have the best mate possible, but also 2. have someone to help take care of offspring.

When you're living in a tribe, you don't need one male, your children's bio father, to "bring home the bacon." Often all children are considered to be the responsibility of the tribe, and "belong" to the patron goddess.

Women in a certain African tribe to this day make sure to have sex with several men before and during pregnancy, as it is believed that each man contributes strength to the fetus. After the birth, all the men help care for and protect baby and mother. That's just one example of a non-nuclear family in tribes.

I didn't know that about oysters! Super interesting.

Yeah, lots of mollusks are ambiguously gendered, have genitalia of both sexes at once, or in succession.

 

[Arnoldr45]

Some time back, I heard a show on NPR talking about all the recent research on promiscuity in pretty much every species of animals. No mammal or bird (not to mention reptiles or sea life) mate with one other, in a MF configuration, for life.

Yes, there are obvious tribes of great apes, like gorillas, or prides of lions, where it seems one male has several female mates, who are all loyal to him (until another male comes in to openly compete). But in every case of DNA studies of their offspring, there are always those who carry the DNA of other males. The females in every species will sneak off (if necessary) to mate with other males from other tribes/prides. The ones that seem monogamous will become pregnant by other males, but go back to raise the offspring with their life mate, or actual "nesting partner," haha.

Every single kind of animal is not monogamous. Every single kind of animal is promiscuous, even when males try to prevent it.

And then consider the oyster. They all start out as male, switch to female, breeding as both sexes, and sometimes switching back to male again.

Don't penguins mate for life? I could have sworn there was another big bird that did as well, mentioned on Blue Planet, or maybe it was Frozen Planet.

 

[Magdlyn]

Don't penguins mate for life?

Of course, this varies by species. Some penguins species seem to be more fidelitous than others. Many mate monogamously, but just for one breeding season (aka serial monogamy). Others mate socially "for life," but DNA studies find the females' offspring to have other biological fathers sometimes, i.e., the females "cheat" on their social mates as far as actual breeding/sexual reproduction. Fathers end up raising the bio offspring of other males.

Animals studies discuss the rates and reasons that penguins "divorce."

I could have sworn there was another big bird that did, as well...

 

[Arnoldr45]

Of course, this varies by species. Some penguins species seem to be more fidelitous than others. Many mate monogamously, but just for one breeding season (aka serial monogamy). Others mate socially "for life," but DNA studies find the females' offspring to have other biological fathers sometimes, i.e., the females "cheat" on their social mates as far as actual breeding/sexual reproduction. Fathers end up raising the bio offspring of other males.

Animals studies discuss the rates and reasons that penguins "divorce."

lol Nice. That cheating part made me laugh. Ahh... isn't life wonderful?