| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
© 1998 International Society for Behavioral Ecology
research-article |
The function of extrapair paternity in blue tits and great tits: good genes or fertility insurance?
Zoological Museum, University of Oslo Sars gate 1, N-0562 Oslo, Norway
Address correspondence to J. T. Lifjeld. E-mail: j.t.lifjeld{at}toyen.uio.no
ABSTRACT
DNA fingerprinting of an island population of blue tits and great tits in southeast Norway revealed that extrapair paternity accounted for 36% (17/47) and 27% (15/55) of broods and for 7% (31/466) and 8% (33/408) of young in the two species, respectively. Cuckolded males did not differ from noncuckolded males with respect to morphology, age, or survival. There was no seasonal pattern in the frequency of extrapair paternity, and males showed no individual consistency in paternity loss over multiple broods. Extrapair offspring did not grow faster, they did not fledge with a higher body mass, and they did not show a higher local survival rate than their half siblings. Hence, there was no evidence of any association between extrapair paternity and male phenotypic or genotypic quality. Extrapair offspring were randomly distributed among broods, with the only exceptions of one blue tit and two great tit broods in which all young (six to nine) were sired by an extrapair male. This pattern is best explained by a small proportion of males (2%–4%) being infertile and by most females performing a few extrapair copulations as insurance against laying infertile eggs. We conclude that the results suggest a role for fertility insurance but that alternative functional explanations to extrapair paternity in these populations cannot yet be ruled out.
Key words: DNA fingerprinting, extrapair paternity, good genes, infertility insurance, offspring survival, Parus caeruleus, Parus major.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. E. Brommer, P. Korsten, K. M. Bouwman, M. L. Berg, and J. Komdeur Is extrapair mating random? On the probability distribution of extrapair young in avian broods Behav. Ecol., September 1, 2007; 18(5): 895 - 904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. E. Johannessen, T. Slagsvold, B. T. Hansen, and J. T. Lifjeld Manipulation of male quality in wild tits: effects on paternity loss Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2005; 16(4): 747 - 754. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Kokko and L. J. Morrell Mate guarding, male attractiveness, and paternity under social monogamy Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2005; 16(4): 724 - 731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Forstmeier and B. Leisler Repertoire size, sexual selection, and offspring viability in the great reed warbler: changing patterns in space and time Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2004; 15(4): 555 - 563. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Spottiswoode and A. P. Moller Extrapair paternity, migration, and breeding synchrony in birds Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2004; 15(1): 41 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Van de Casteele, P. Galbusera, T. Schenck, and E. Matthysen Seasonal and lifetime reproductive consequences of inbreeding in the great tit Parus major Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2003; 14(2): 165 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Slagsvold, A. Johnsen, H. M. Lampe, and J. T. Lifjeld Do female pied flycatchers seek extrapair copulations with familiar males? A test of the incomplete knowledge hypothesis Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2001; 12(4): 412 - 418. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. Whittingham and P. O. Dunn Survival of extrapair and within-pair young in tree swallows Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2001; 12(4): 496 - 500. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. C. Griffith High fidelity on islands: a comparative study of extrapair paternity in passerine birds Behav. Ecol., May 1, 2000; 11(3): 265 - 273. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|