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Extra-pair paternity in birds: explaining variation between species and populations
1Evolution and Behaviour Research Group, Dept of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK NE1 7RU.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 18, 2011
Summary
Extra-pair paternity is common in socially monogamous birds, with frequencies varying significantly across species and populations. Understanding these variations sheds light on the evolutionary drivers of sexual selection.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Molecular techniques like DNA fingerprinting reveal widespread extra-pair paternity in socially monogamous birds.
- Significant natural variation exists in the frequency of extra-pair young across different bird species and populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explain the marked variation in extra-pair paternity frequencies observed between species and populations.
- To understand the factors influencing sexual selection in socially monogamous bird species.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing molecular techniques, specifically DNA fingerprinting, to determine paternity.
- Analyzing data from comparative and detailed behavioral studies.
Main Results:
- Extra-pair paternity is a common phenomenon in socially monogamous birds.
- Variation in extra-pair young frequency is substantial across species and populations.
Conclusions:
- Factors such as breeding density, population genetic variation, and sexual conflict intensity influence the costs and benefits of extra-pair copulations.
- These factors contribute to the observed variation in extra-pair paternity among bird populations, offering insights into sexual selection dynamics.
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