Extra-pair paternity in relation to breeding synchrony in ground tits: an individual-based approach

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 561-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chen Wang ◽  
Xin Lu
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Ferretti ◽  
Viviana Massoni ◽  
Marcela Liljesthröm ◽  
Mariela V. Lacoretz ◽  
David W. Winkler

Behaviour ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 863-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjörn von Schantz ◽  
Debora Arlt ◽  
Staffan Bensch ◽  
Dennis Hasselquist ◽  
Bengt Hansson

AbstractBreeding synchrony is hypothesised to influence the occurrence and frequency of extra-pair fertilisations (EPFs) in birds irrespective of the social mating system. The two proposed hypotheses make opposite predictions. (1) Synchronous breeding leads to a lower frequency of EPFs because males face a trade-off between mate guarding and obtaining additional matings via extra-pair copulations (EPCs) ('guarding constraint' hypothesis). (2) Synchronous breeding promotes EPFs because females are able to compare displaying males simultaneously, which provides them with more reliable cues for extra-pair mate choice ('mate assessment' hypothesis). In a study of great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) from 1987-1998, annual breeding was asynchronous and the frequency of EPFs was rather low (extra-pair young occurring in 6.4% of the broods). Within this population, however, there was no relationship between the frequency of EPFs and breeding synchrony, thus not favouring any of the two hypotheses. Contrary to assumptions of the hypotheses, mate guarding did not seem to constrain males from engaging in EPCs (disfavouring the 'guarding constraint' hypothesis), and females seem to have repeated opportunities to compare males irrespective of breeding synchrony (disfavouring the 'mate assessment' hypothesis). Our results suggest that breeding synchrony is not an important factor influencing patterns of EPFs in great reed warblers. The low frequency of EPFs may instead be explained by the socially polygynous mating system, where females are less constrained in their choice of a social male.


The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian R. K. Stewart ◽  
Richard D. Hanschu ◽  
Terry Burke ◽  
David F. Westneat

Abstract We performed a two-year study of extra-pair paternity in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) to test a suite of hypotheses relating to ecological factors associated with breeding conditions and parental phenotypes and genotypes. Extra-pair fertilizations (EPFs) accounted for 45 of 419 (11%) nestlings and occurred in 33 of 126 (26%) broods. EPFs were not correlated with breeding synchrony or breeding density, although they were significantly more common toward the end of each breeding season. Body size and the size of the bib, a secondary sexual character, were no different between males that were cuckolded and those that achieved full paternity in their nests. Older males were cuckolded as frequently as yearlings, and there was no difference between males that were cuckolded and those that were not with regard to two measures of individual genetic diversity. There was no evidence that females sought EPFs to avoid inbreeding, since EPFs were equally likely to be present among pairs that were closely related and those that were only distantly related, and females were equally related to their extra-pair mates as they were to their within-pair mates. Furthermore, extra-pair sires did not possess alleles that were rare in the population. In sum, despite a substantial sample size, we found few correlates of extra-pair paternity in House Sparrows.


Behaviour ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 134 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 551-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart Kempenaers

AbstractBreeding synchrony has been suggested as one factor that might explain the variation in frequency of extra-pair paternity, both between and within species. Reproductive synchrony might limit the opportunities for males to engage in extra-pair copulations (EPCs), because males face a trade-off with guarding their own fertile partner. Alternatively, breeding synchrony may promote extra-pair paternity, because of reduced male-male competition for EPCs or because of enhanced possibilities for females to assess male quality. In this study, I investigated the influence of synchrony on the occurrence of extra-pair paternity in the blue tit Parus caeruleus. Over four years, breeding synchrony and extra-pair paternity were positively related. Within a season, extra-pair paternity occurred independently of the timing of breeding. The fertile period of the extra-pair male's social mate and that of the extra-pair female often overlapped considerably. However, males who performed EPCs during the fertile period of their social mate were not more likely to lose paternity than males who performed EPCs after the fertile period of their mate. These data suggest that breeding synchrony has little influence on the occurrence of extra-pair paternity in the blue tit.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mireia Plaza ◽  
Alejandro Cantarero ◽  
Juan Moreno

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina‐Maria Valcu ◽  
Mihai Valcu ◽  
Bart Kempenaers
Keyword(s):  

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