The meaning of assortative mating

https://doi.org/10.1016/0162-3095(83)90009-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Patterns of positive assortative mating are commonly inferred to result from homotypic preferences (preferences for self's type). This paper demonstrates that such preferences can result from heterotypic and type preferences as well. Because several kinds of preferences can lead to the same pattern, experimentation to measure preferences is necessary to determine the process responsible. The apparent weight of evidence for homotypic preferences may result from the kinds of preferences experimenters have selected to examine.

References (115)

  • G.W. Barlow et al.

    Incompatability and assortative mating in the Midas cichlid

    Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol.

    (1977)
  • A.J. Bateman

    Intra-sexual selection in Drosophila

    Heredity

    (1948)
  • P. Bateson

    Sexual imprinting and optimal out-breeding

    Nature

    (1978)
  • L. Beckman

    Assortative mating in man

    Eugen. Rev.

    (1967)
  • R.J. Berry et al.

    Polymorphism and behavior in the Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus (L.))

    Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B

    (1970)
  • L.V. Bertalanffy

    General Systems Theory

    (1968)
  • N. Burley

    Parental investment, mate choice, and mate quality

    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

    (1977)
  • N. Burley

    Mate selection by multiple criteria in a monogamous species

    Am. Nat.

    (1981)
  • N. Burley

    The evolution of sexual indistinguishability

  • N. Burley

    Mating patterns in Drosophila: an evolutionary perspective

    (1982)
  • N. Burley

    The organization of behavior and the evolution of sexually selected traits

    (1982)
  • F.G. Cooch et al.

    Assortative mating and reciprocal differences in the blue-snow goose complex

    Nature

    (1959)
  • F. Cooke et al.

    Color preferences in the lesser snow goose and their possible role in mate selection

    Canad. J. Zool.

    (1972)
  • F. Cooke et al.

    Mate selection and colour preferences in lesser snow geese

    Behaviour

    (1975)
  • F. Cooke et al.

    Assortative mating in lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens)

    Behav. Genet.

    (1976)
  • J.F. Crow et al.

    The effect of assortative mating on the genetic composition of a population

    Eugen. Quart.

    (1968)
  • J.F. Crow et al.

    An Introduction to Population Genetics Theory

    (1970)
  • C. Darwin

    The Variation of Animals and Plants under Domestication

    (1876)
  • J.W.F. Davis et al.

    Estimation of assortative mating preferences in the Arctic skua

    Heredity

    (1976)
  • J.W.F. Davis et al.

    Territory size, breeding time and mating preference in Arctic skua

    Nature

    (1976)
  • T. Dobzhansky

    Experiments on sexual isolation in Drosophila. III. Geographic strains of Drosophila sturtevanti

    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

    (1944)
  • T. Dobzhansky et al.

    Experiments on sexual isolation in Drosophila. II. Geographical strains of Drosophila prosaltans

    Genetics

    (1944)
  • B. Eckland

    Theories of mate selection

    Eugen. Quart.

    (1968)
  • B. Eckland

    Evolutionary consequences of differential fertility and assortative mating in man

  • L. Ehrman

    Genetics and sexual selection

  • L. Ehrman

    Rare male advantage and sexual isolation in Drosophila immigrans

    Behav. Genet.

    (1972)
  • D.S. Falconer

    Introduction to Quantitative Genetics

    (1981)
  • R.A. Fisher

    The correlation between relatives on the supposition of Mendelian inheritance

    Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb.

    (1918)
  • J. Gallagher

    Sexual imprinting: effects of various regimes of social experience on mate preferences in Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix japonica

    Behaviour

    (1976)
  • G. Gandolfi

    Sexual selection in relation to the social status of males in Poecilia reticulata (Teleostei: Poeciliidae)

    Bollet. Zool.

    (1971)
  • D. Goodwin

    The existence and causation of colour-preferences in the pairing of feral and domestic pigeons

    Bull. Brit. Ornithol. Club

    (1958)
  • M.P. Harris

    Abnormal migration and hybridization of Larus argentatus and L. fuscus after interspecific fostering experiments

    Ibis

    (1970)
  • C.T. Hill et al.

    Breakups before marriage: the end of 103 affairs

    J. Soc. Issues

    (1976)
  • K. Immelmann

    Zur Irreversibilitat der Pragung

    Naturwissenshaften

    (1966)
  • K. Immelmann

    Okologishe und stammesgeschichtliche Betrachtungen zum Pragungsphanomen

    Zool. Anz.

    (1969)
  • J.R. Jehl

    Sexual selection for size differences in two species of sandpipers

    Evolution

    (1970)
  • H. Kalmus et al.

    Some evolutionary consequences of pegmatypic mating systems (imprinting)

    Am. Nat.

    (1966)
  • S. Karlin

    Equilibrium Behaviour of Population Genetic Models with Non-Random Mating

    (1969)
  • E.S. Karp et al.

    Ideal-self fulfillment in mate selection: A corollary to the complementary need theory of mate selection

    J. Marriage Family

    (1970)
  • A.C. Kerckoff

    Patterns of homogamy and the field of eligibles

    Social Forces

    (1964)
  • Cited by (206)

    • Sex ratio and density may affect temporal variation in size-assortative mating in a Neotropical ant species

      2018, Zoologischer Anzeiger
      Citation Excerpt :

      Assortative mating is a mating assortment by similarity or dissimilarity of phenotypic or genotypic traits that occur more frequently than expected by chance (Burley 1983; Ridley 1983).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text