Abstract
Abstract. Behavioral and genetic data were used to determine whether more than one female lays eggs in nests of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). Eighty-five nests were monitored, and 18 nests with eggs suspected to be from different females were selected. Both types of eggs were swabbed to sample for DNA since eggshells contain cells from the reproductive tract of the mother or the skin of incubating individuals. Using these swabs, molecular sexing was first conducted, and three clutches were discarded due to samples with a pattern of male DNA. In the remaining 15 nests, DNA was extracted from swabs (n = 45 eggs) and genotyped at seven microsatellite loci. The genetic diagnosis was developed with a blinded protocol including both suspected and non-suspected eggs by comparison of maternal DNA found on the eggs. With one exception, genotypes not compatible with the predominant female genotype in each clutch were found almost exclusively on suspected eggs, proving that the genetic diagnosis was not an artif...
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