Food, Sex, and a Hummingbird: The purple-throated carib of the Lesser Antilles

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Ethan Temeles
Thomas B. Walton, Jr. Memorial Professor of Biology

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Sexual differences in size and morphology are widespread in animals. Charles Darwin drew attention to these differences and offered explanations for their evolution based on mate competition and mate choice, reproductive roles, and competition for food resources. Although ample evidence has been obtained for the roles of mating behavior and reproductive roles in the evolution of sex differences, little evidence exists for the role of food competition in the evolution of sex differences. Prof. Temeles will discuss his ground-breaking research on sexual dimorphism and food competition in the purple-throated carib hummingbird, and the role hummingbirds have played in shaping our understanding of sex differences. His lecture also will feature beautiful photographs and videos of hummingbirds of the Eastern Caribbean.

Supplemental Materials:

• Natural History Article by Ethan Temeles
• PBS Nature film, Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air (This film is accessible for free to those in the United States; Professor Temeles' research is discussed at the 12:20 mark.)