Open AccessExtrapair paternity in a flock‐living passerine, the vinous‐throated parrotbill Paradoxornis webbianus
Author(s) -
Lee JinWon,
Kim MyunSik,
Burke Terry,
Hatchwell Ben J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of avian biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.022
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1600-048X
pISSN - 0908-8857
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-048x.2009.04836.x
Subject(s) - biology , passerine , brood parasite , offspring , intraspecific competition , seasonal breeder , zoology , brood , flock , territoriality , mating system , ecology , sexual selection , sperm competition , paternal care , reproductive success , mating , parasitism , demography , genetics , host (biology) , pregnancy , population , sociology
Understanding the factors that affect the occurrence of extrapair paternity (EPP) is one of the central issues in sexual selection. We investigated genetic parentage and the ecological factors affecting patterns of EPP in the vinous‐throated parrotbill, Paradoxornis webbianus , a flock‐living species with double broods. Using microsatellite DNA fingerprinting, we determined parentage of 246 offspring in 50 broods over two years (2005 and 2006). Nineteen offspring (8%) from 13 broods (26%) were sired by extrapair males and one offspring (0.4%) was probably the result of intraspecific brood parasitism. The prevalence of EPP varied significantly through the breeding season: 95% of broods with EPP (12/13) occurred in the first of two laying peaks. Parentage assignment revealed that half of extrapair males (6/12) were adjacent neighbours. The distribution of EPP was not significantly related to the ecological factors including breeding density and breeding synchrony. Instead, we suggest that social characteristics such as flocking and weak territoriality may determine the observed pattern of EPP in this study.