A 17-year study has recently been published in The American Naturalist, looking at the issue of polyandry in female sparrows and whether they derive any benefit from this practice. It had been thought that this behavior would result in higher-quality offspring and more grandchildren, but this hypothesis has been challenged. It seems that female promiscuity, at least in this study population, does not seem to offer any reproductive advantages. There is more to be learned before any firm conclusions can be drawn. A genetic disposition to this practice is also being researched; males may pass the gene to their daughters.
Read full article here: Female Cheating: Infidelity Offers No Evolutionary Advantage, Sparrow Study Suggests
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