Current Ornithology. Questo articolo non è disponibile.Current Ornithology

This edited series has three principal goals. The first is to provide information in a relatively concise way for researchers needing an over­ view of specific disciplines. The second is to provide an update on specific schools of thought, bringing together ideas from colleagues whose works often appear in a variety of journals. And the third is to stimulate and suggest directions for new research. Volume 6 continues the tradition established by the previous editor and editorial board in providing new information, updating our understanding of specific dis­ ciplines, and stimulating new research. In the first chapter, Randall Breitwisch examines mortality patterns and sex ratios in monogamous birds. He argues that there are many more components to measuring parental investment than are often re­ alized; our knowledge is weak in several areas. Understanding the evo­ lution of mating systems depends on better distinguishing the different intensities of natural selection that operate on males and females. Greg­ ory Butcher and Sievert Rohwer develop a framework for assessing the role of colorfulness in birds. They propose several hypotheses to test and advocate evaluating more than one hypothesis at a time. Future work on the evolution of distinctive coloration and of sexual and age dimorphism must take these ideas into account.

`Volume 6 is an exciting collection of papers that deal with relevant issues in ecology. The authors of the various chapters have detailed not only what is known about their respective topics, but have also suggested areas within the topics that need further investigations. The reading of Chapter 5 is a sobering experience that would be worthwhile for all ecologists.'
Ecology, 71:1