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van Oosten HH, van den Burg AB, Arlt D, Both C, van den Brink NW, Chiu S, Crump D, Jeppsson T, de Kroon H, Traag W, Siepel H. Hatching failure and accumulation of organic pollutants through the terrestrial food web of a declining songbird in Western Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:1547-1553. [PMID: 30308840 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Population growth in passerine birds is largely driven by fecundity. If fecundity is affected, for instance by hatching failure, populations may decline. We noted high hatching failure of up to 27% per year in relict populations of the Northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) in The Netherlands, a strongly declining, migratory passerine in Europe. This hatching failure itself can cause population decline, irrespective of other adverse factors. Additionally, we investigated the cause of hatching failure. Unhatched eggs showed egg yolk infections or embryonic malformations, part of which is associated with the actions of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). Indeed, DLCs appear to bioaccumulate in the local foodweb, where the soil contained only background concentrations, similar to those found at many other locations. DLC concentrations in Dutch eggs were six-fold higher than those in a reference population in Sweden, where egg failure was only 6%. However, Northern wheatears appear to be only moderately sensitive to the actions of DLCs, because of their specific Ah-receptor type which may moderate the receptor mediated effects of DLCs. This indicates that the concentrations of DLCs, although elevated, may not have caused the embryo malformations or the low hatching rates. We discuss whether other toxins may be important or imbalances in the nutrition and if inbreeding may play a larger role than expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Herman van Oosten
- Bargerveen Foundation, Toernooiveld 1, Postbox 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Animal Ecology and Physiology & Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University, PO Box 9100, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Oenanthe Ecologie, Hollandseweg 42, 6706 KR Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Debora Arlt
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Christiaan Both
- Center for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, Groningen 9747 AG, the Netherlands
| | - Nico W van den Brink
- Department of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Postbox 8000, 6700 EA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Chiu
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Doug Crump
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Tobias Jeppsson
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Science, Box 7044, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden; CEES, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Postbox 1066, Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hans de Kroon
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Animal Ecology and Physiology & Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University, PO Box 9100, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wim Traag
- RIKILT Wageningen UR, Akkermaalsbos 2, 6708 WB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Henk Siepel
- Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Animal Ecology and Physiology & Experimental Plant Ecology, Radboud University, PO Box 9100, 6500 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Bose APH, Zimmermann H, Henshaw JM, Fritzsche K, Sefc KM. Brood-tending males in a biparental fish suffer high paternity losses but rarely cuckold. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:4309-4321. [PMID: 30182504 PMCID: PMC6221093 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Extra‐pair paternity within socially monogamous mating systems is well studied in birds and mammals but rather neglected in other animal taxa. In fishes, social monogamy has evolved several times but few studies have investigated the extent to which pair‐bonded male fish lose fertilizations to cuckolders and gain extra‐pair fertilizations themselves. We address this gap and present genetic paternity data collected from a wild population of Variabilichromis moorii, a socially monogamous African cichlid with biparental care of offspring. We show that brood‐tending, pair‐bonded males suffer exceptionally high paternity losses, siring only 63% of the offspring produced by their female partners on average. The number of cuckolders per brood ranged up to nine and yet, surprisingly, brood‐tending males in the population were rarely the culprits. Brood‐tending males sired very few extra‐pair offspring, despite breeding in close proximity to one another. While unpaired males were largely responsible for the cuckoldry, pair‐bonded males still enjoyed higher fertilization success than individual unpaired males. We discuss these results in the context of ecological and phenotypic constraints on cuckoldry and the fitness payoffs of alternative male tactics. Our study provides new insights into how pair‐bonded males handle the trade‐off between securing within‐pair and extra‐pair reproduction.
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Ruiz-Lambides AV, Weiß BM, Kulik L, Widdig A. Which male and female characteristics influence the probability of extragroup paternities in rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta? Anim Behav 2018; 140:119-127. [PMID: 30455506 PMCID: PMC6238966 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Extragroup paternity (EGP) is found across a wide range of species and may entail reproductive benefits, but may also entail costs to both sexes. While population and group parameters affecting the degree of EGPs are relatively well established, less is known about the individual characteristics that make males and females engage in alternative reproductive tactics such as EGP. Applying a combination of long-term demographic and genetic data from the rhesus macaque population of Cayo Santiago (Puerto Rico, U.S.A.), we investigate which male and female characteristics influence the probability of EGP to better understand the circumstances that shape the distribution and occurrence of EGP. Our results show that, against our expectations, higher-ranking females were more likely to produce EGP offspring than lower- ranking females. The probability of producing extragroup offspring was not significantly related to female or male age, male tenure or previous reproductive success. Furthermore, genetic relatedness between the parents did not affect the production of extragroup offspring, but extragroup offspring were more frequently produced early rather than late in a given mating season. Altogether, our analysis suggests that individual attributes and seasonal aspects create different opportunities and preferences for engaging in EGP as an alternative reproductive tactic. The observed patterns of EGP in rhesus macaques appear to be consistent with female mate choice for genetic benefits, which needs to be confirmed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V. Ruiz-Lambides
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Cayo Santiago Field Station, Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, Punta Santiago, Puerto Rico
| | - Brigitte M. Weiß
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lars Kulik
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anja Widdig
- Junior Research Group of Primate Kin Selection, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Bioscience, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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Schmaljohann H, Meier C, Arlt D, Bairlein F, van Oosten H, Morbey YE, Åkesson S, Buchmann M, Chernetsov N, Desaever R, Elliott J, Hellström M, Liechti F, López A, Middleton J, Ottosson U, Pärt T, Spina F, Eikenaar C. Proximate causes of avian protandry differ between subspecies with contrasting migration challenges. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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5
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García-Navas V, Ferrer ES, Cáliz-Campal C, Bueno-Enciso J, Barrientos R, Sanz JJ, Ortego J. Spatiotemporal and genetic contingency of extrapair behaviour in a songbird. Anim Behav 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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6
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Schlicht L, Valcu M, Kempenaers B. Male extraterritorial behavior predicts extrapair paternity pattern in blue tits,Cyanistes caeruleus. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Moreno J, Martínez JG, González-Braojos S, Cantarero A, Ruiz-de-Castañeda R, Precioso M, López-Arrabé J. Extra-Pair Paternity Declines with Female Age and Wing Length in the Pied Flycatcher. Ethology 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Moreno
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC; Madrid Spain
| | | | - Sonia González-Braojos
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC; Madrid Spain
| | - Alejandro Cantarero
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC; Madrid Spain
| | | | - Marta Precioso
- Departamento de Zoología; Universidad de Granada; Granada Spain
| | - Jimena López-Arrabé
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC; Madrid Spain
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Hoi H, Krištofík J, Darolová A. Experimentally simulating paternity uncertainty: immediate and long-term responses of male and female reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62541. [PMID: 23658637 PMCID: PMC3639161 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In many socially monogamous species, both sexes seek copulation outside the pair bond in order to increase their reproductive success. In response, males adopt counter-strategies to combat the risk of losing paternity. However, no study so far has tried to experimentally prove the function of behaviour for paternity assurance. Introducing a potential extra-pair partner during the female fertile period provides a standardised method to examine how pair members respond immediately (e.g. increase mate guarding or copulation frequency) or long term (e.g. later parental investment and paternity uncertainty). In this study on a socially monogamous passerine species, we experimentally confronted pairs of reed warblers with a conspecific male (caged male simulating an intruder) during egg-laying. Our results revealed that occurrence of an intruder during that period triggered aggression against the intruder, depending on the presence of the female. The male territory owner also attacked the female partner to drive her away from the intruder. Thus territory defence in reed warblers also serves to protect paternity. The increase in paternity uncertainty did not affect later paternal investment. Paternal investment was also independent of the actual paternity losses. In females, the experiment elicited both, immediate and long-term responses. E.g. female copulation solicitations during the intruder experiment were only observed for females which later turned out to have extra-pair chicks in their nest. In relation to long term response females faced with an intruder invested later less in offspring feeding, and had less extra-pair chicks in their nests. Extra-pair paternity also seems to be affected by female quality (body size). In conclusion female reed warblers seem to seek extra-pair fertilizations but we could demonstrate that males adopt paternity assurance tactics which seems to efficiently help them to reduce paternity uncertainty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Hoi
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Moreno J, MartÃnez JG, Morales J, Lobato E, Merino S, Tomás G, Vásquez RA, Möstl E, Osorno JL. Paternity Loss in Relation to Male Age, Territorial Behaviour and Stress in the Pied Flycatcher. Ethology 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2009.01716.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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10
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Komdeur J, Burke T, Richardson DS. Explicit experimental evidence for the effectiveness of proximity as mate-guarding behaviour in reducing extra-pair fertilization in the Seychelles warbler. Mol Ecol 2007; 16:3679-88. [PMID: 17845440 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03420.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Extra-pair copulations (EPCs; copulations outside the pair bond) are widespread in birds and may result in extra-pair fertilizations (EPFs). To increase reproductive success, males should not only seek to gain EPFs, but also prevent their own females from gaining EPFs. Although males could reduce the number of EPCs by their mates, this does not necessarily mean that they reduce the number of EPFs; indeed several studies have found no association between EPCs and EPFs. Male Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) follow their partner closely during the period when the pair female is most receptive (fertile period). We show that males that guarded their mates more closely were less likely to have extra-pair young in their nest. This study on the Seychelles warbler is the first to provide explicit experimental evidence that mate guarding is effective in reducing EPFs. First, in territories where free-living males were induced to stop mate guarding during the pair female's fertile period, extra-pair parentage was higher than in the control group. Second, in the experimental group, the probability of having an extra-pair nestling in the nest was positively associated with the number of days during the fertile period for which mate guarding was artificially stopped. Thus, male mate guarding was effective in reducing the risk of cuckoldry.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Komdeur
- Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands.
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11
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Edly-Wright C, Schwagmeyer P, Parker PG, Mock DW. Genetic similarity of mates, offspring health and extrapair fertilization in house sparrows. Anim Behav 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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12
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JENNIONS MICHAELD, PETRIE MARION. Why do females mate multiply? A review of the genetic benefits. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185x.1999.tb00040.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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13
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Albrecht T, Kreisinger J, Piálek J. The Strength of Direct Selection against Female Promiscuity Is Associated with Rates of Extrapair Fertilizations in Socially Monogamous Songbirds. Am Nat 2006; 167:739-44. [PMID: 16671017 DOI: 10.1086/502633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2005] [Accepted: 01/23/2006] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
A costs-benefits approach has frequently been used to understand the evolutionary origin and maintenance of promiscuity in animal populations. Recent meta-analyses suggest that direct costs to unfaithful females outweigh indirect benefits from infidelity in socially monogamous songbirds, suggesting that in this taxa, extrapair fertilization (EPF) evolved primarily as a self-interest male tactic. Here we present results of comparative analysis to show that standardized selection gradients acting against female infidelity (direct costs of promiscuity) explain variation in EPF rates at an interspecific level in passerines. This result confirms that costs to females resulting from reduced parental care from cheated males constrain promiscuity in this group. Our data indicate that females exert resistance over EPFs when the costs of infidelity are high and, conversely, that the rate of EPFs increases when selection on females to defend themselves against EPF attempts by males is weak and costs of infidelity are low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomás Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, CZ-675 02 Studenec 122, Czech Republic.
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14
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Kokko H, Morrell LJ. Mate guarding, male attractiveness, and paternity under social monogamy. Behav Ecol 2005. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ari050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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15
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Marthinsen G, Kleven O, Brenna E, Lifjeld JT. Part-Time Mate Guarding Affects Paternity in Male Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus). Ethology 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01079.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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16
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Woolfenden BE, Stutchbury BJ, Morton ES. Male Acadian flycatchers, Empidonax virescens, obtain extrapair fertilizations with distant females. Anim Behav 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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17
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Mennill DJ, Ramsay SM, Boag PT, Ratcliffe LM. Patterns of extrapair mating in relation to male dominance status and female nest placement in black-capped chickadees. Behav Ecol 2004. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arh076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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18
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Török J, Michl G, Garamszegi LZ, Barna J. Repeated inseminations required for natural fertility in a wild bird population. Proc Biol Sci 2003; 270:641-7. [PMID: 12769465 PMCID: PMC1691287 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2002.2257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In most bird species, pairs copulate many times before egg laying. The exact function of repeated inseminations (i.e. successful copulations) is unknown, but several suggestions have been made. We tested the hypothesis that repeated inseminations are required to ensure fertilization of eggs, by using an experimental method where free-ranging male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) were prevented from inseminating their mates. We show that egg fertility was lower when females had not copulated during the studied part of their fertile period. By counting sperm on the inner perivitelline layer of eggs, we estimated that a minimum of 86 sperm must reach the site of fertilization to ensure average fertility. Using the timing of inseminations and the numbers of sperm on successive eggs, we show that repeated copulations are necessary to achieve an average rate of fertilization of a single clutch. Our results thus provide evidence that repeated inseminations function to ensure fertilization success. We discuss possible constraints on sperm production and utilization that may have contributed to this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Török
- Behavioural Ecology Group, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös University, H-1117, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C Budapest, Hungary.
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Fishman MA, Stone L, Lotem A. Fertility assurance through extrapair fertilizations and male paternity defense. J Theor Biol 2003; 221:103-14. [PMID: 12634047 DOI: 10.1006/jtbi.2003.3174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Extrapair paternity has been observed in many formally monogamous species. Male pursuit of extrapair fertilizations is explained by the advantages of having offspring that receive essential paternal care from other males. Since females are capable of exercising a degree of control over the post-copulatory sperm competition, extrapair paternity cannot persist unless it confers fitness benefits on cuckolding females. Thus, extrapair paternity involves cooperation between mated females and extrapair males. On the other hand, paired males frequently exhibit strategies that minimize their loss of paternity and/or conserve paternal investment if paternity is lost. Hence, extrapair attributes of diverse species and populations reported in the literature are particular solutions of evolutionary games involving gender-specific cuckolding/anti-cuckolding strategies. Here we use methods of evolutionary game theory to study the role of male paternity guarding strategies in situations where females seek extrapair fertilizations for reasons of genetic compatibility and/or in pursuit of genetic diversity for their offspring. Our results indicate that in these circumstances pursuit of extrapair fertilizations is the only evolutionary stable female strategy. Males, on the other hand, have two, mutually exclusive, evolutionary stable strategies: full time pursuit of extrapair fertilizations and a compromise strategy wherein they protect in-pair paternity during their mate's fertile periods and pursue extrapair paternity the rest of the time. The relative merits of these two strategies are determined by the efficiency of male in-pair paternity defense, breeding synchrony, fitness advantages of extrapair over in-pair offspring, and the intensity of competition for extrapair fertilizations from floater males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Fishman
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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20
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Chuang-Dobbs HC, Webster MS, Holmes RT. Paternity and parental care in the black-throated blue warbler, Dendroica caerulescens. Anim Behav 2001. [DOI: 10.1006/anbe.2001.1733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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21
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Ji W, Sarre SD, Aitken N, Hankin RK, Clout MN. Sex-biased dispersal and a density-independent mating system in the Australian brushtail possum, as revealed by minisatellite DNA profiling. Mol Ecol 2001; 10:1527-37. [PMID: 11412373 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-294x.2001.01287.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Natal dispersal can have important effects on mammal population structure and dynamics following a local population crash. Such dispersal is of practical importance when applied to the control of pest species because dispersal may significantly, and undesirably, reduce the population recovery time following a control operation. The relative dispersal rate of the sexes is also critical because that too will affect the rate of population increase. Here, we describe a field experiment in which we reduce the density of two populations of the Australian brushtail possum, and use genetic similarity, as estimated by minisatellite DNA profiles, to investigate dispersal in the original (undisturbed) and recovering populations. Our results show that the genetic similarity within the undisturbed populations was lower between males than between females. Conversely, the genetic similarities between males and females in the two recovering populations were not significantly different, while relatedness among males was significantly higher in the recovering populations when compared with those in the pre-removal populations. These data indicate two important characteristics of dispersal in possums: (i) that dispersal in established populations is sex biased towards males; and (ii) that within the first 3 years following population control, 'the vacuum effect', whereby individuals from areas adjacent to a control area expand their home range and invade the depopulated area, is the most important factor in the re-colonization process for possums. We found no evidence that the mating system, which is polygynous, varied when the density was markedly reduced. These results indicate that drastic reductions in population density by conventional control will not affect the rate of spread of biological control agents that rely on sexual transmission for dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ji
- School of Environmental and Marine Sciences, The University of Auckland, PB 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
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22
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Tobias J, Seddon N. Territoriality as a paternity guard in the European robin, Erithacus rubecula. Anim Behav 2000; 60:165-173. [PMID: 10973717 DOI: 10.1006/anbe.2000.1442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the relative importance of paternity defences in the European robin we used behavioural observations, simulated intrusions and temporary male removal experiments. Given that paired males did not increase their mate attendance, copulation rate or territory size during the female's fertile period, the most frequently quoted paternity assurance strategies in birds were absent. However, males with fertile females sang and patrolled their territories more regularly, suggesting that territorial motivation and vigilance were elevated when the risk of cuckoldry was greatest. In addition, there was a significant effect of breeding period on response to simulated intrusions: residents approached and attacked freeze-dried mounts more readily in the fertile period. During 90-min removals of the pair male in the fertile period, neighbours trespassed more frequently relative to prefertile and fertile period controls and appeared to seek copulations with unattended females. When replaced on their territories, males immediately increased both song rate and patrolling rate in comparison with controls. We propose that male robins sing to signal their presence, and increase their territorial vigilance and aggression in the fertile period to protect paternity. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Tobias
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge
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23
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Griffith SC. High fidelity on islands: a comparative study of extrapair paternity in passerine birds. Behav Ecol 2000. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/11.3.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Gil D, Graves JA, Slater PJ. Seasonal patterns of singing in the willow warbler: evidence against the fertility announcement hypothesis. Anim Behav 1999; 58:995-1000. [PMID: 10564601 DOI: 10.1006/anbe.1999.1211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Males of many bird species use a variety of behaviour patterns that reduce their chances of being cuckolded. The 'fertility announcement' hypothesis (Møller 1991, American Naturalist, 138, 994-1014) proposes that song might be one such paternity guard. According to this hypothesis, paired males would announce their female's fertile status by singing. This has been interpreted as an honest signalling, evolutionarily stable strategy. Contrary to the predictions of this hypothesis, male willow warblers, Phylloscopus trochilus, sang very little when females were fertile. Intrusions by other males in the fertile period were not less common when males sang at higher rates. Mate guarding and singing are best interpreted as two conflicting behaviours during this period, the former being directed to the fertile female and the latter to attracting a second female, or an extrapair female. A survey of recent studies suggests that, in most passerine species studied, males do not sing during the fertile period of their females. The different conclusions of Møller (1991) are probably due to his use of population-wide estimates of the timing of singing behaviour and egg laying. Breeding asynchronies within populations would be responsible for the apparent matching between the peaks of singing activity and fertility. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Gil
- Institute of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biology, University of St Andrews
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