scholarly journals Report of an extra-pair copulation in the Rufous Hornero, Furnarius rufus (Aves: Furnariidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. e20216167
Author(s):  
Pedro Diniz ◽  
Carlos Biagolini-Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Food Access ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Territorial Male ◽  
Aggressive Interaction ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Bird Breeding ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Low Levels

In the last decade, studies in bird breeding biology have shown that infidelity is prevalent in socially monogamous species. Here, we describe an extra-pair copulation (EPC) event in the Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus), a socially monogamous bird with year-round territoriality and low levels of extra-pair paternity. Before the EPC, a within-pair copulation (WPC) occurred inside the pair’s territory. The WPC occurred on the ground and between a banded male (ca. 6 years-old) and an unbanded female. Ten minutes later this breeding pair invaded a neighboring territory, presumably to forage. The territorial male was chased back to its territory by an unbanded male neighbor after being detected. The male neighbor was paired with an unbanded female that did not participate in the aggressive interaction. When flying back to its territory the male neighbor copulated with the territorial female on the ground (ie. EPC). The territorial male flew, vocalized, and perched above the male neighbor, interrupting the EPC. The aggressive interaction then ceased as each pair resumed foraging in their respective territories. These observations suggest that Rufous Horneros can use EPC to obtain immediate benefits (food access in a neighbor’s territory). Moreover, WPC may be detected by neighbors and physical mate guarding and/or frequent WPC may be necessary to prevent EPC in the Rufous Hornero.

Duetting correlates with territory quality and reproductive success in a suboscine bird with low extra-pair paternity

The Auk ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 136 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Diniz ◽  
Regina H Macedo ◽  
Michael S Webster
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Cooperative Behavior ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Territory Quality ◽  
Territory Defense ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Female Song ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Low Rate

AbstractDuetting has been intensively studied, but we still have little consensus about its fitness consequences. Some studies suggest that duetting functions in acoustic mate guarding to prevent cuckoldry (acoustic paternity guarding hypothesis), whereas other studies argue that duetting is a cooperative behavior to defend common resources (territory defense hypothesis). We tested these 2 hypotheses by investigating the relationships among song traits, extra-pair paternity, territory quality and reproductive success in the Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus), a Neotropical, socially monogamous bird. We found a low rate of extra-pair paternity (3.33% of 120 offspring and 6.52% of 46 broods), which suggests that acoustic paternity guarding is probably not a primary function of duetting behavior in this species. Female song output was positively correlated with territory quality, measured as the availability of territory foraging patches. The number of young that survived post-fledging was positively correlated with duet duration, but not with territory features. Our results support the territory defense hypothesis, suggesting that female song in duets might be used in the defense of food resources within territories. Our study provides the first evidence that song traits correlate with both territory features and reproductive success in a duetting species.

Extra-pair paternity and mate-guarding behaviour in the brown thornbill

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Green ◽  
Anne Peters ◽  
Andrew Cockburn
Keyword(s):  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Fertile Period ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Multilocus Dna Fingerprinting ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Older Males

We used multilocus DNA fingerprinting to assess parentage in the brown thornbill, Acanthiza pusilla, a socially monogamous Australian passerine. Extra-pair paternity was uncommon (6.2% of 178 offspring; 11.9% of 67 broods) and there was no evidence of intra-specific brood parasitism. Extra-pair paternity was limited because pairs spent more time together when females were fertile and males were able to evict intruding males before they could approach the female. Males were responsible for the close proximity of partners during the fertile period. Mate guarding therefore appears to be a male tactic aimed at preventing female infidelity rather than a cooperative behaviour of the pair aimed at preventing extra-pair copulations and/or female harassment. Females did not attempt to escape male guarding and were rarely observed to solicit copulations from intruding males. Nevertheless, females paired to smaller and younger males were more likely to cuckold their mates than females paired to larger and older males. This suggests that females may be more likely to seek or accept extra-pair matings when paired to small, young males or that old, large males are better at preventing their mates from engaging in extra-pair copulations. We found that male age but not male size influences mate-guarding behaviour. Older males tended to respond more aggressively to intruders. We therefore speculate that the relationship between male size/age and extra-pair paternity in brown thornbills may arise because female thornbills prefer large males as mates but are unable to express this preference as easily when paired to older males.

scholarly journals Heritability of the extra-pair mating behaviour of the pied flycatcher in Western Siberia

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9571
Author(s):  
Vladimir G. Grinkov ◽  
Andreas Bauer ◽  
Helmut Sternberg ◽  
Michael Wink
Keyword(s):  
Western Siberia ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Pied Flycatcher ◽  
Point Estimate ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Pair Mating ◽  
Extra Pair Mating

Males and females take part in extra-pair copulations in most socially monogamous bird species. The mechanisms leading to the frequent occurrence of extra-pair offspring in socially monogamous couples are strongly debated and unresolved, and they are often difficult to distinguish from one another. Most hypotheses explaining the evolution of extra-pair reproduction suggest selective and adaptive scenarios for their origination and persistence. Is extra-pair paternity a heritable trait? We evaluated the heritability of extra-pair paternity in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) nesting in Western Siberia. Estimated heritability was low: depending on the model used, the point estimate of the heritability (mode) varied from 0.005 to 0.11, and the bounds of the 95% confidence interval are [0–0.16] in the widest range. Thus, it seems that extra-pair mating behaviour in the pied flycatchers is a plastic phenotypic mating tactic with a small or no genetic component. Our data can help to understand the evolution of extra-pair mating behaviour in socially monogamous species.

scholarly journals Low Extra-Pair Paternity in White-Tailed Ptarmigan

The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Benson
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Glacier National Park ◽  
Lagopus Leucurus ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Socially Monogamous

Abstract The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) is one of the few socially monogamous species within the highly polygynous grouse subfamily (Tetraoninae). I found White-tailed Ptarmigan in Glacier National Park, Montana, to be nearly genetically monogamous. Of 58 chicks with putative fathers identified, three were the result of extra-pair copulations (5%). Three of 18 clutches (17%) contained extra-pair offspring. I suggest that White-tailed Ptarmigan males are able to guard their females effectively from extra-pair copulations because of high visibility in their habitat and their ability to forage alongside their mate. The three extra-pair offspring were sired by unknown males. Baja Paternidad Extra-Pareja en Lagopus leucurus Resumen. Lagopus leucurus es una de las pocas especies socialmente monógama dentro de la subfamilia Tetraoninae que se caracteriza por ser altamente polígina. En el “Glacier National Park,” Montana, encontré que los individuos de L. leucurus eran casi completamente monógamos en términos genéticos. De 58 polluelos con padres putativos, tres (5%) fueron el resultado de copulaciones extra-pareja. Tres de 18 nidadas (7%) presentaron hijos extra-pareja. Sugiero que los machos de L. leucurus son capaces de proteger efectivamente a sus hembras para evitar copulaciones extra-pareja debido a la alta visibilidad del hábitat en que se encuentran y a la habilidad de forrajear junto con la hembra. Los tres hijos de origen extra-pareja no fueron engendrados por machos que estaban en pareja.

scholarly journals Measuring Pre- and Post-Copulatory Sexual Selection and Their Interaction in Socially Monogamous Species with Extra-Pair Paternity

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 620
Author(s):  
Emily Rebecca Alison Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Selection Gradients ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Male Trait ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Sperm Trait ◽  
Sperm Traits

When females copulate with multiple males, pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection may interact synergistically or in opposition. Studying this interaction in wild populations is complex and potentially biased, because copulation and fertilization success are often inferred from offspring parentage rather than being directly measured. Here, I simulated 15 species of socially monogamous birds with varying levels of extra-pair paternity, where I could independently cause a male secondary sexual trait to improve copulation success, and a sperm trait to improve fertilization success. By varying the degree of correlation between the male and sperm traits, I show that several common statistical approaches, including univariate selection gradients and paired t-tests comparing extra-pair males to the within-pair males they cuckolded, can give highly biased results for sperm traits. These tests should therefore be avoided for sperm traits in socially monogamous species with extra-pair paternity, unless the sperm trait is known to be uncorrelated with male trait(s) impacting copulation success. In contrast, multivariate selection analysis and a regression of the proportion of extra-pair brood(s) sired on the sperm trait of the extra-pair male (including only broods where the male sired ≥1 extra-pair offspring) were unbiased, and appear likely to be unbiased under a broad range of conditions for this mating system. In addition, I investigated whether the occurrence of pre-copulatory selection impacted the strength of post-copulatory selection, and vice versa. I found no evidence of an interaction under the conditions simulated, where the male trait impacted only copulation success and the sperm trait impacted only fertilization success. Instead, direct selection on each trait was independent of whether the other trait was under selection. Although pre- and post-copulatory selection strength was independent, selection on the two traits was positively correlated across species because selection on both traits increased with the frequency of extra-pair copulations in these socially monogamous species.

scholarly journals Extra-pair paternity in the long-tailed finchPoephila acuticauda

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica P. van Rooij ◽  
Lee A. Rollins ◽  
Clare E. Holleley ◽  
Simon C. Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Breeding System ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
Genetic Breeding ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Genetic Monogamy ◽  
Pair Bonds ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Socially Monogamous

Although the majority of passerine birds are socially monogamous, true genetic monogamy is rare, with extra-pair paternity (EPP) occurring in almost 90% of surveyed socially monogamous species. We present the first molecular data on the genetic breeding system of the long-tailed finch,Poephila acuticauda, a grass finch endemic to the tropical northern savannah of Australia. Although the species forms socially monogamous pair bonds during the breeding season, we found that extra-pair males sired 12.8% of 391 offspring, in 25.7% of 101 broods. Our findings provide only the second estimate of extra-pair paternity in the estrildid finch family.

scholarly journals Old female reed buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) increase extra-pair paternity in their broods when mated to young males

Behaviour ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 142 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1449-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Bouwman ◽  
Jan Komdeur
Keyword(s):  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Male Preference ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
The Social ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Behavioural Interactions ◽  
Emberiza Schoeniclus ◽  
Older Males

AbstractIn birds, females are generally assumed to determine whether extra-pair copulations occur, and thus most studies on extra-pair paternity (EPP) have focussed on female preference for male traits, whereas female traits have been largely neglected. However, the occurrence of EPP is likely to be a result of behavioural interactions (e.g., mate guarding by the social male and escaping mate guarding by the female), and may be related to individual experience, which is expected to increase with age. We investigated the effect of age on levels of EPP in reed buntings Emberiza schoeniclus, a socially monogamous passerine with extremely high levels of extra-pair young (more than 50% of offspring). In broods of older males the rate of cuckoldry declined, which is in agreement with our previous finding that older males are more successful, either through female choice or through male experience. In contrast, older females tended to increase the level of extra-pair paternity in their broods. When including the age of the partner, we found that young males, but not old males, were cuckolded more by old females than by young females. The increase in EPP with female age is not likely to be due to disassortative mating with respect to age, an increased capacity of older females to raise a brood without male help, nor a male preference for older females. With age, males nor females changed their share in parental effort. We suggest that with increase in age, females become more choosy when selecting the male that sires their offspring, or alternatively, become more experienced at circumventing paternity assurance tactics of young males.

scholarly journals Coevolution of female fidelity and male help in populations with alternative reproductive tactics

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1943) ◽  
pp. 20202371
Author(s):  
Xiang-Yi Li ◽  
Andrew Morozov ◽  
Wolfgang Goymann
Keyword(s):  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Alternative Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Reproductive Tactics ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Empirical Tests ◽  
Individual Based Simulation ◽  
Genetically Determined

In socially monogamous species, pair-bonded males often continue to provide care to all offspring in their nests despite some degree of paternity loss due to female extra-pair copulation. Previous theoretical models suggested that females can use their within-pair offspring as ‘hostages' to blackmail their social mates, so that they continue to provide care to the brood at low levels of cuckoldry. These models, however, rely on the assumption of sufficiently accurate male detection of cuckoldry and the reduction of parental effort in case of suspicion. Therefore, they cannot explain the abundant cases where cuckolded males continue to provide extensive care to the brood. Here we use an analytical population genetics model and an individual-based simulation model to explore the coevolution of female fidelity and male help in populations with two genetically determined alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs): sneakers that achieve paternity solely via extra-pair copulations and bourgeois that form a mating pair and spend some efforts in brood care. We show that when the efficiency of mate guarding is intermediate, the bourgeois males can evolve to ‘specialize' in providing care by spending more than 90% of time in helping their females while guarding them as much as possible, despite frequent cuckoldry by the sneakers. We also show that when sneakers have tactic-specific adaptations and thus are more competitive than the bourgeois in gaining extra-pair fertilizations, the frequency of sneakers and the degrees of female fidelity and male help can fluctuate in evolutionary cycles. Our theoretical predictions highlight the need for further empirical tests in species with ARTs.

The Importance of Different Paternity Guards in the Polygynandrous Penduline Tit (Remiz Pendulinus)

Behaviour ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 134 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 941-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Schleicher ◽  
F. Valera ◽  
H. Ho ◽  
M. Hoi-Leitner
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Fertile Period ◽  
Extra Pair Paternity ◽  
Genetic Benefits ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Male Mate ◽  
Remiz Pendulinus ◽  
Paternity Guards

AbstractIt is well documented that extra-pair copulations are a strategy by which males can increase their reproductive success and females may obtain genetic benefits. Whereas in monogamous species extra-pair copulations are the only way for both sexes to increase their reproductive success, in polygamous systems both partners can benefit from mating with several individuals. Here we examine the intensity of sperm competition and the rate of extra-pair fertilizations in relation to male anti-cuckoldry tactics in a small passerine, the polygynandrous penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus), where both sexes have the opportunity to become polygamous. The results revealed rather low rates of extra-pair paternity for this species: 6.9% (14 out of 201) of young being sired by an extra-pair male. Males build elaborate nests to attract females and because of this high initial investment, one would expect males to evolve anti-cuckoldry tactics to ensure paternity. However, male mate guarding intensity as well as within-pair copulation frequency were rather low in comparison to other polygynandrous species, and hence both strategies are unlikely to ensure paternity. In fact our results show that those males which deserted their females early in their fertile cycle (already before the second egg is laid) did not lose paternity, whereas those males which tended to guard their females throughout their whole fertile period were more likely to be cuckolded. Thus, although no obvious anti-cuckoldry tactics exist in this species, extra-pair paternity is very low. This indicates a tendency in females to cooperate with their pair-males rather than seek extra-pair copulations.

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