Evolution of homosexuality in birds explained

[n2doc]

When birds have help on the parenting front, it leaves wiggle room for homosexual behavior without sacrificing evolutionary efficiency.
By Bryan Nelson
Tue, Jul 13 2010 at 3:18 AM EST


ALBATROSS LESBIANS: Up to 31% of pairings among some albatross species are female–female. (Photo: Manabu Ogasawara/Jupiterimages.com)
A new study published this week may mark the end of the theory that homosexuality only has evolutionary disadvantages, according to Nature.

The findings, based on observations of 93 bird species that are known to engage in homosexual activity, revealed that the amount of time males or females put toward parental care was proportional to how often they engage in homosexual behavior.

This means that homosexuality may not be costly for birds that have plenty of mating opportunities because of lower parenting demands, said Geoff MacFarlane, one of the study's principal researchers.

In other words, since some animals can devote more energy toward mating behavior than to raising offspring, there is wiggle room for homosexuality to become a common behavior without sacrificing evolutionary efficiency.

Previously, biologists struggled to explain how homosexuality could have evolved since it distracts animals from sexual activity that directly produces offspring. The fact that it had evolved was difficult to deny: more than 130 species of birds participate in homosexual activity. For example, among Laysan albatrosses, as many as 31 percent of all pairings are female-female. Among graylag geese, one in five pairings are male-male.

more

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/pets-animals/stories/evolution-of-homosexuality-in-birds-explained

This should cause some fundy heads to explode...

[texastoast]

1. Well, this should make the sex-for-procreation crowd's heads explode

and that might be fun to watch.

[Behind the Aegis]

4. I doubt it. This is science, not something they grasp easily; much like logic.

This will be their response:

For the birds
So are we letting birds define our morality now? We have the ability to rise above our natural (or unnatural) tendencies and be evolved and enlightened people. If you wanna justify rolling around with sodomites, pornographers, pedophiles and perverts go right ahead... you are only fooling yourself.

That comment is, of course, in response to the article. Even with all the actual proof the earth is billions of years old, there are those who still believe it to be about 6,000 years old. They are immune to reason and logic.

[roguevalley]

10. beautiful birds, those.

[Swede]

2. Well,we humans have no problem reproducing offspring.

Sounds like a workable theory to me.

[aquart]

3. IOW, it's THERE and it doesn't make the world explode or the species go extinct.

[xchrom]

5. All this says to me is there too many straight scientists

With conventional notions of what frisky behavior SHOULD mean.

Whether conservative or - hello? - liberal -
not all mating is about procreation.

[Beam Me Up]

6. Fundies don't believe in evolution. Perhaps the devil made the albatrosses do it? /sarcasm n/t

[ck4829]

13. I'm willing to bet it won't be sarcasm for long.

Just wait.

[newtothegame]

7. What defines "homosexual activity" in birds? nt

[FiveGoodMen]

8. "This should cause some fundy heads to explode"

What I wouldn't give to see that played out literally!

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. So THAT explains why dodos went extinct.

:evilgrin:


.

[kenny blankenship]

11. This should cause some fundy heads to explode...

"They only got that way by watching the liberal media! There were no homosexual pairings in Eden - unless you count Adam doing it with his own rib - which we do not!"

[ck4829]

12. K&R