Paternal investment inversely related to degree of extra-pair paternity in the reed bunting

Nature ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 371 (6499) ◽  
pp. 698-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Dixon ◽  
Douglas Ross ◽  
Sean L. C. O'Malley ◽  
Terry Burke
Keyword(s):  
Paternal Investment ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Reed Bunting

Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) males sing an 'all-clear' signal to their incubating females

Behaviour ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katja Wingelmaier ◽  
Erwin Nemeth ◽  
Hans Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Pair Formation ◽  
Paternal Investment ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Male Song ◽  
Clear Signal ◽  
Territory Defence ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Emberiza Schoeniclus ◽  
Singing Activity ◽  
Reed Bunting

AbstractWhile sexual functions of birdsong have been intensively investigated, non-sexual functions have received less attention. After pair formation males may sing to communicate with their established mates. Song aimed at incubating and feeding females could serve as an 'all-clear' signal, showing that there is no risk of predation and that it is safe for the female to exit the nest or to feed the young. Females should therefore preferentially leave nests when mates are singing nearby. Additionally, a vigilant male near the nest site could protect the brood from potential risks like predation and females could stay away longer for foraging. In this study, we investigated aspects of male singing activity of reed buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) during incubation and feeding of nestlings after pair formation. Exits of incubating females from the nest occurred significantly more often than expected during male song output. When their mates were singing at high rates, females stayed away longer for incubation breaks. During the nestling period we found a high variation in male song output. Males that sang more fed their young significantly less. This suggests that time devoted to singing limits other activities such as feeding of offspring. Male reed buntings could choose different strategies for paternal investment: They either feed at high rates or they sing more to signal their vigilance. Another reason for this trade-off might be a conflict between paternal investment and territory defence or extrapair behaviour. However, even if male song after pairing has additional sexual functions, we suggest that non-sexually selected functions may be more common than expected.

Effects of Gender and Media on Reading Facial Cues for Paternal Investment

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily W. Shih ◽  
Donna L. Tadle ◽  
Heather Coffin ◽  
Sun-Mee Kang
Keyword(s):  
Paternal Investment ◽  
Facial Cues ◽  
Gender And Media

Experimental increase in female mass during the fertile phase leads to enhanced extra-pair paternity in pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireia Plaza ◽  
Alejandro Cantarero ◽  
Juan Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Ficedula Hypoleuca ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Female Dominance ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Wing Loading ◽  
Potential Fecundity ◽  
Fertile Phase ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity

Female mass in most altricial birds reaches its maximum during breeding at egg-laying, which coincides temporally with the fertile phase when extra-pair paternity (EPP) is determined. Higher mass at laying may have two different effects on EPP intensity. On the one hand, it would lead to increased wing loading (body mass/wing area), which may impair flight efficiency and thereby reduce female’s capacity to resist unwanted extra-pair male approaches (sexual conflict hypothesis). On the other hand, it would enhance female condition, favouring her capacity to evade mate-guarding and to search for extra-pair mates (female choice hypothesis). In both cases, higher female mass at laying may lead to enhanced EPP. To test this prediction, we reduced nest building effort by adding a completely constructed nest in an experimental group of female pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca). Our treatment caused an increase in mass and thereby wing loading and this was translated into a significantly higher EPP in the manipulated group compared with the control group as expected. There was also a significant negative relationship between EPP and laying date and the extent of the white wing patch, an index of female dominance. More body reserves at laying mean not only a higher potential fecundity but a higher level of EPP as well. This interaction had not previously received due attention but should be considered in future studies of avian breeding strategies.

Extended male–female bonds and potential for prolonged paternal investment in a polygynandrous primate (Papio anubis)

2021 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 31-40
Author(s):  
Veronika Städele ◽  
Linda Vigilant ◽  
Shirley C. Strum ◽  
Joan B. Silk
Keyword(s):  
Paternal Investment ◽  
Papio Anubis
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