Breeding synchrony and extra-pair mating in red-winged blackbirds |
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Authors: | Patrick J Weatherhead |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa ON K1S 5B6, Canada Fax: 613-359-5596; e-mail: pweather@ biology.queensu.ca, CA |
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Abstract: | Using data from a 6-year paternity study of red-winged blackbirds, I tested the hypotheses that increased nesting synchrony
should either promote extra-pair mating by increasing the advantage of extra-pair mating to females, or decrease extra-pair
mating by constraining males from seeking extra-pair copulations. Contrary to these hypotheses, the occurrence of extra-pair
paternity did not vary with nesting synchrony over the breeding season, or vary with the number of synchronous nests within
territories or within marshes, or with nesting order on territories. However, for nearly all nests with extra-pair young,
there were fewer females synchronous with that nest on the cuckolder's territory than on the territory of the cuckolded male.
This “advantage” of a synchrony difference was less pronounced for older males that cuckolded younger males, particularly
when the two males were not neighbors. Collectively, these results suggest that breeding synchrony affects extra-pair mating
by affecting mate guarding, but that breeding synchrony alone can not be used to predict which females are more likely to
engage in extra-pair mating, nor with which extra-pair males they will mate. Understanding why extra-pair mating by older
males is less affected by breeding synchrony may explain much about both the proximate and ultimate causes of extra-pair mating
in red-winged blackbirds.
Received: 7 June 1996 / Accepted after revision: 25 November 1996 |
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Keywords: | Synchrony Extra-pair mating Age Neighbors Red-winged blackbird |
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