A common trend in size differences between males and females is a long-standing puzzle. A study of shorebirds shows that the type and strength of competition for mates may explain much of the pattern.
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J. VAN DE KAM
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Andersson, M., Wallander, J. Relative size in the mating game. Nature 431, 139–141 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/431139a
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/431139a
