Social and Genetic Mating System of the American Golden-Plover

Abstract

Shorebirds are exceptionally diverse in their social mating systems, and genetic analyses of a few species have revealed further variation in genetic mating systems. The ecological and evolutionary causes of this variation are largely unknown. We studied the mating system of American Golden-Plovers (Pluvialis dominica) at Barrow, Alaska, between 2004 and 2009. In this arctic population, birds bred in socially monogamous pairs, as has been seen in other populations, yet rates of philopatry and mate fidelity were low. We used microsatellite DNA markers to analyze parentage and found that most offspring originated from monogamous matings, but 8% of 131 offspring and 16% of 37 nests were the result of nonmonogamous matings. One nest was ambiguous; it was either a full clutch sired through extra-pair copulation or represented an instance of social polygyny. Despite wide variation in synchrony of breeding and density of nesting both within and among breeding seasons, these ecological variables were unrelated to mating patterns. We speculate that the low rate of pair fidelity and the high rate of extrapair paternity are linked, because the lack of familiarity between partners reduces benefits of monogamy. Further study of breeding behavior and rates of philopatry are needed to understand why, among socially monogamous shorebirds, the American Golden-Plover has high rates of extra-pair paternity.