The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
The Problem with Paradigms: Bateman's Worldview as a Case Study1
1 Department of Biology, University of MissouriSt. Louis, 8001 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
Bateman's principles, their corollaries and predictions constitute a paradigm for the study of sexual selection theory, evolution of mating systems, parental investment theory, and sexual dimorphism in male and female behavior. Some aspects of this paradigm have been challenged in recent years, while others have been supported by empirical and theoretical research. We re-examine Bateman's 1948 paper in detail, including some methodological problems. Additionally, we review three areas in which an over-reliance on Bateman's predictions about sexual dynamics hindered our ability to understand the potential importance of certain behaviors: 1) male mate choice and sperm allocation; 2) the role of females in initiating and soliciting extra-pair copulations and fertilizations; and 3) the role of females in lekking systems, in which recent evidence suggests that copulations with multiple males (polyandrous behavior) may be common. We conclude this introduction to the symposium by emphasizing the heuristic value of Bateman's contributions, as well as the problems that arise when Bateman's paradigm is viewed through the lens of modern behavioral ecology and evolutionary theory.
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
T. Clutton-Brock, S. West, F. Ratnieks, and R. Foley The evolution of society Phil Trans R Soc B, November 12, 2009; 364(1533): 3127 - 3133. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. G. Jones and N. L. Ratterman Colloquium Papers: Mate choice and sexual selection: What have we learned since Darwin? PNAS, June 16, 2009; 106(Supplement_1): 10001 - 10008. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Clutton-Brock Sexual Selection in Males and Females Science, December 21, 2007; 318(5858): 1882 - 1885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. L. Leonard Sexual selection: lessons from hermaphrodite mating systems Integr. Comp. Biol., August 1, 2006; 46(4): 349 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. L. Leonard Bateman's Principle and Simultaneous Hermaphrodites: A Paradox Integr. Comp. Biol., November 1, 2005; 45(5): 856 - 873. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. G. Parker and Z. Tang-Martinez Bateman Gradients in Field and Laboratory Studies: A Cautionary Tale Integr. Comp. Biol., November 1, 2005; 45(5): 895 - 902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. A. Gowaty and S. P. Hubbell Chance, Time Allocation, and The Evolution of Adaptively Flexible Sex Role Behavior Integr. Comp. Biol., November 1, 2005; 45(5): 931 - 944. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||



