Expert Warns 'Beware Males Bearing Gifts' This Valentine's
28 January 2013
Professor Karim Vahed
In this lecture I will explore whether such gifts provide mutual benefits to both sexes or if they represent a subtle means by which males manipulate the behaviour of their mates.
”As restaurant bookings and sales of flowers begin to rise in the run up to Valentine's Day a University of Derby Professor will reveal that many animals, not just humans, use courtship gifts to secure the object of their affection.
Professor Karim Vahed, who is an expert on the evolution of mating behaviour, including courtship feeding in the animal kingdom, will share his insights into this fascinating aspect of some species' relationships at his free inaugural lecture at the University of Derby's Kedleston Road site on Wednesday February 6 at 6.30pm.
Professor Vahed is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society, whose research findings on this subject include the fact that a species of bushcricket has the largest testicles of any animal in relation to their body size.
He said: "Among many of the tricks and strategies used by males to impress potential mates in the animal kingdom, males of many species use gifts as a way to secure procreation opportunities.
"In many species of birds and some spiders, males collect food which they give to a mate, while males of certain species of crickets produce jelly-like gifts that they transfer to the female during mating.
"In this lecture I will explore whether such gifts provide mutual benefits to both sexes or if they represent a subtle means by which males manipulate the behaviour of their mates."
To book your free place at the Inaugural Lecture, taking place at the University of Derby's Kedleston Road site on Wednesday February 6 at 6.30pm visit www.derby.ac.uk/vahed
