Mate replacement in experimentally widowed collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): determinants and outcomes |
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Authors: | Ben C Sheldon Pete Davidson Gabriella Lindgren |
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Institution: | Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University, Norbyv?gen 18d, S-75236 Uppsala, Sweden e-mail: ben.sheldon@zoologi.uu.se Tel.: +46-18-4712655, Fax: +46-18-4716484, SE 84 College Road, Norwich, NR2 3JL, UK, GB Department of Evolutionary Biology Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University, Norbyv?gen 18d S-75236 Uppsala, Sweden, SE
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Abstract: | There is increasing evidence that sexual selection may be intense even in socially monogamous birds, resulting from both
mate choice and sperm competition. We studied these two modes of sexual selection experimentally by removing paired male collared
flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, from their mates for 2 days and investigating the factors that influenced the likelihood of a replacement male appearing
and how the removals influenced paternity. Replacement males (usually neighbouring males) appeared at 81% (n = 37) of nests where males were removed. The likelihood of this appearance was unaffected by the probable reproductive value
of the female's clutch to the replacing male. A replacement was, however, less likely when the original male had a large forehead
patch, a trait previously shown to be subject to sexual selection in this population. Experimental removal of males increased
the level of sperm competition: 74% of experimental broods were multiply sired, compared to 29% of unmanipulated broods in
a previous study. Only two factors predicted how paternity was shared between males: removed males fathered more young if
removed closer to laying, and if they had larger forehead patches. The former result is consistent with last-male sperm precedence
determining paternity, whereas the latter adds to other evidence that forehead patch size is the target of female preference
in this species. Our results suggest that females exert some control over male replacement, and also that they may influence
the fertilisation success of males by behavioural means.
Received: 15 July 1998 / Received in revised form: 16 March 1999 / Accepted: 28 March 1999 |
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Keywords: | Paternity Sexual selection Sperm competition Sperm precedence Birds |
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