Wanted: a reason to divorce

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Wars of the Roses amongst blue tits - half of all pairs separate again. Image: Kaspar DelheyMPI for Ornithology
Wars of the Roses amongst blue tits - half of all pairs separate again. Image: Kaspar Delhey/MPI for Ornithology

Divorce is widespread, not only in humans, but also in socially monogamous birds like the blue tit. Behavioural ecologists Mihai Valcu and Bart Kempenaers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen found divorce rates of up to 50% in a long-term study of this species. But why do partners split up? To answer this question, it helps to know who suffers and who benefits from the separation (Animal Behaviour, April 23, 2008).


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All News summaries for April 23, 2008

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