Correlates of extra-pair fertilization success in hooded warblers |
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Authors: | Bridget J M Stutchbury W H Piper D L Neudorf S A Tarof Judith M Rhymer G Fuller R C Fleischer |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, York University, North York, Ontario, M3J 1P3, Canada, CA;(2) Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USA, US |
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Abstract: | We examined correlates of extra-pair fertilization (EPF) success in the hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina), a species where females pursue extra-pair matings. The good genes hypothesis predicts that females choose extra-pair mates
with morphological or behavioral traits that reflect differences in male genetic quality. EPFs were common, as 35.3% (42/119)
of broods contained extra-pair young (EPY) and 26.7% (95/356) of nestlings were the result of EPFs. There was a strong skew
in male EPF success which increased the variance in annual male mating success 2–3 fold. However, male morphology did not
predict EPF success, as extra-pair males were not older or larger than the males they cuckolded. Likewise, there were no significant
correlations between the proportion of extra-pair young in a brood and male size or age. The good genes hypothesis predicts
that high-quality males will be consistently preferred as genetic mates, but the number of young sired by a male with his
social mate was not consistent from one year to the next. There was a significant negative correlation between female age
and proportion of EPY produced, which could result if older females obtain higher-quality social mates. We found no strong
evidence that females choose extra-pair mates for good genes, but females may use behavioral rather than morphological cues
to assess relative male quality.
Received: 31 May 1996 / Accepted after revision: 17 October 1996 |
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Keywords: | Wilsonia citrina DNA fingerprinting Extra-pair fertilizations Mating system Sexual selection |
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