1995/08/01 by CL Coddington, Andrew Cockburn · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Plant and animal studies #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
paper · doi:10.1071/zo9950365
openalex publication_date 1995/08/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Despite their pivotal role in interpretation of the complex mating systems of the ratites, the mating system of free-living emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) has not been characterised. Here we report observations on an introduced but free-ranging population of emus at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the Australian Capital Territory. Emus combined monogamy, polyandry and promiscuity. All initially unpaired males paired with and incubated a clutch for females whose primary mates were preoccupied with incubation. However, females were also promiscuous, and most copulations we observed were extra-pair. Females fight vigorously among themselves for access to unpaired males. Coupled with observations on cassowaries, these data suggest that there is no simple correlation between habitat (grassland/forest) and the mating system in ratites. Instead, the resolution of the complex conflicts of interest between the sexes appears to determine the predominant mating systems exhibited by a species.