Extra-pair paternity in a species with frequent extra-pair courtship feedings, few extra-pair copulations, and male-biased parental care

Mateusz Ledwoń,Patricia Szczys

doi:10.1007/s10336-021-01954-1

Abstract

Patterns of extra pair paternity (EPP) and intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP) were studied in a Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida population characterized by female brood desertion, a high level of extra pair courtship feedings (10%) and a low level of extra pair copulation (EPC; 0.6%). In this study, we used a set of microsatellite loci to analyse parentage in 56 Whiskered Tern families from southern Poland. Depending on the method, we detected that 1.4%–3.6% of chicks were sired by an extra-pair male, and extra-pair chicks were present in 3.6%–8.9% of broods. IBP was observed in 8.9%–14.3% of broods, corresponding to 3.6%–6.4% of the chicks. The low rate of EPP is in agreement with the hypothesis that in species with high male parental investment, females should avoid EPC. The low level of IBP indicates that intraspecific egg dumping is not a common female strategy in Whiskered Tern, similar to many other colonial waterbird species.

Highlights

Extra-pair paternity (EPP)—paternity by any male other than the mother’s pair-bonded male and intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP)—brood parasitism in which parasite and host are of the same species, are common in birds
Our findings were similar to the EPP rate estimated in a population of Whiskered Tern from central Poland, where EPP was found in 8% of chicks and in 12% of broods (Minias et al 2014)
Betweenpopulation variation in the EPP rate has been reported for a small number of avian species, mostly passerines

Summary

Introduction

Extra-pair paternity (EPP)—paternity by any male other than the mother’s pair-bonded male and intraspecific brood parasitism (IBP)—brood parasitism in which parasite and host are of the same species, are common in birds. These concepts have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of the evolution of reproductive strategies (Petrie and Møller 1991; Chaine et al 2015). IBP is highest in precocial species but is common in colonial breeders (Yom-Tov 1980, 2001; de Valpine and Eadie 2008). It is a widespread behaviour: in American Coot Fulica americana 41% of pairs are parasitized (Lyon 2003), and in colonially breeding Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, the percentage of nests with parasitic eggs may be as high as 33% (Brown and Bomberger Brown 1996)

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Conclusion