The Effect of Breeding Synchrony On Extra-Pair Mating Systems in Songbirds

Stutchbury, Bridget J. M.; Morton, Eugene S.

doi:10.1163/156853995x00081

Cited by 323 publications

(276 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Studies of genetically monogamous species have proposed a variety of non-mutually exclusive reasons for the lack of extra-pair behaviour, including breeding asynchrony (e.g. Stutchbury and Morton 1995;Morton et al 1998), low breeding density (e.g. Verboven and Mateman 1997), low benefits or high costs to females (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence for acoustic mate-guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis)

Gill

Vonhof

Stutchbury

et al. 2005

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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There are few empirical tests of the acoustic mate-guarding hypothesis for the function of duetting in birds. This hypothesis states that when females are fertile, males initiate many songs or answer most of their mates solo songs to form duets and repel rival males seeking extra-pair copulations. We tested the hypothesis by comparing song initiation and answer rates of males and females in socially monogamous buff-breasted wrens (Throthorus leucotis) during pre-fertile and fertile periods. During pre-fertile periods, males often sang for short periods before being answered by their mates, yet first duets were formed earlier relative to dawn and more duets were given during the dawn chorus on pre- fertile than fertile mornings. Males initiated more songs during pre-fertile than fertile periods, whereas there was no difference between stages in female song initiation rates. The proportion of songs answered by individuals of both sexes did not differ between breeding stages. Other mate-guarding behaviours, such as frequent copulation and maintaining close proximity to mates when fertile, did not appear to be important in this species, as no copulations were observed and there was no difference in the time pairs spent in close proximity when females were fertile or not. Parentage analysis revealed that only 3% of 31 broods had young that were likely the result of extra-pair paternity. These findings do not support the acoustic mate-guarding hypothesis, and suggest that the low rate of extra-pair paternity in buff-breasted wrens was maintained without the use of acoustic or traditional paternity guards.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No evidence for acoustic mate-guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis)

Gill

Vonhof

Stutchbury

et al. 2005

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Mean daily low temperatures are 23ЊC; highs average 29ЊC in the wet season and 32ЊC in the dry season. The seven study species discussed here differ in at least two major life-history attributes: habitat type and social system ( Morton 1971, Stutchbury and Morton 1995, 2001. Spotted Antbirds and Bicolored Antbirds are socially monogamous.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive Seasonality of Seven Neotropical Passerine Species

Wikelski

Hau

Robinson

et al. 2003

Condor

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Abstract. We investigated gonad sizes, nesting patterns, and plasma hormone concentrations of seven Neotropical passerine species in a lowland tropical rainforest (Panama) at 9ЊN latitude over at least one annual cycle. All species had entirely regressed gonads for several months of the year (October to January), coinciding with the end of heavy rainfall. Gonadal recrudescence started in the dry season between January and March. Nesting began earlier (March) for open-habitat species than for forest-interior species (April), and lasted until August or December, respectively. Species differed widely in maximal relative testes sizes and reproductive hormone concentrations, but both measures were lower than in most temperate-zone species. Although we cannot provide a phylogenetically controlled comparison, polygynous and group-living species appeared to have larger testes than monogamous species, possibly indicating sperm competition. Testosterone concentrations were highest in polygynous species, intermediate in socially monogamous species, and lowest in a groupliving species, indicating that testosterone is more influenced by social systems than by gonad cycles. Tropical birds may generally maintain low testosterone concentrations and relatively small gonads to decrease overall energy expenditure compared to temperate-zone relatives.Key words: breeding season, gonad cycles, hormones, Panama, rainforest, seasonality, tropical. Estacionalidad Reproductiva de Siete Especies Passeriformes NeotropicalesResumen. Investigamos los tamaños de las gónadas, los patrones de nidificación y las concentraciones hormonales plasmáticas de siete especies de aves paserinas Neotropicales en una selva lluviosa tropical de tierras bajas en Panamá (9ЊN) durante por lo menos un ciclo anual. Todas las especies tenían gónadas enteramente retraídas por varios meses del año (octubre a enero), coincidiendo con el fin del periodo de precipitación lluviosa pesada. El crecimiento gonadal comenzó en la estación seca, entre enero y marzo. La nidificación comenzó primero en las especies de hábitat abierto (marzo) que en las especies de interior de bosque (abril) y duró hasta agosto y diciembre, respectivamente. Las especies difirieron extensamente en los tamaños relativos máximos de las gónadas y en las concentraciones de la hormona reproductiva, aunque ambas medidas fueron menores que para la mayoría de las especies de la zona templada. Aunque no podemos proveer una comparación controlada por filogenia, las especies poliginias y las especies que viven en grupo tenían testículos más grandes que las especies monógamas, lo que posiblemente podría estar indicando competencia espermática. Las concentraciones de testosterona fueron mayores en las especies poliginias, intermedias en las socialmente monógamas, y menores en las especies que viven en grupo, indicando que la testosterona estaría más influenciada por el sistema social que por los ciclos de las gónadas. Las aves tropicales podrían generalmente mantener niveles bajos de testosterona y tamaños r...

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“…These include breeding density Yezerinac et al, 1999), breeding synchrony (Stutchbury & Morton, 1995;, genetic diversity (Petrie & Lipsitch, 1994;Griffith, 2000), dependence on paternal care (Birkhead & Møller, 1996;Gowaty, 1996;Mulder et al, 1994), and adult mortality (Mauck et al, 1999;Wink & Dyrcz, 1999). Each of these hypotheses is briefly explained below.…”

Section: Study Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A long, cold winter, combined with the effects of high elevation means that MNWR frequently has late snow melt and a delayed emergence of the insects upon which kingbirds feed. This leads to greater breeding synchrony, which is one factor predicted to influence rates of EPP in birds (Stutchbury & Morton, 1995;Griffith et al, 2002).…”

Section: Study Site and Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral Observation and Paternal Investment of Eastern Kingbirds at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Chutter

2000

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Chapter 2 was split into three distinct questions: 1) are parental nesting behaviors repeatable, 2) is a one hour sample sufficient to capture variability in these behaviors, and 3) is the first hour of recording sufficient to capture variability in these behaviors. I found overwhelming evidence that the behaviors I measured were repeatable. This is important because lack of repeatability would call into question the use of single point samples of behavior to study animal behavior. I similarly found strong evidence that a one hour sample was sufficient to capture variability in parental behaviors. From this I was able to suggest that further sampling effort would be better ii spent increasing sample size rather than observation length. Results of my test of whether the first hour of recording captured accurately variability in parental behavior was less clear. While a positive correlation usually existed between behaviors recorded in the first hour and recordings made over a 2 to 3 hour observation period, most behaviors also tended to have significantly lower values in the first hour. I tested whether this was the result of a lingering observer effect or a natural effect of time of day and concluded that an observer effect was the more likely explanation.In recent decades behavioral ecologists have shown that a majority of songbirds that breed as socially monogamous pairs are rarely genetically monogamous. This creates a conundrum for males, and in chapter 3 I address a question of long-standing debate among behavioral ecologists studying the extra-pair mating systems of birds; does loss of paternity lead to reductions in a male's investment in his social mate's current brood. I used the standard male feeding rate as a measure of male investment as well as a far more nuanced measure derived from the first eigenvector of a principal component analysis of six paternal behaviors. These were both tested using Akaike's Information Criterion against a number of variables likely to affect parental behavior, including realized paternity. Ultimately, I found no evidence that kingbirds were able to affect paternal investment in response to lost paternity, and conclude that they likely had no means to assess realized paternity within the nest of their social mate. However, from the other parameters tested I found that males increased their investment as brood size increased and as the female spent more time attending, but not feeding, the iii nestlings. Also, male investment decreased as territory density increased and flight feather length increased. Theory surrounding the variability of extra-pair paternity in birds can be used to account for these results. In a denser population males are predicted to reduce paternal effort for one of two reasons; increased likelihood of paternity loss in his own nest and an increased investment in pursuing extra-pair copulations of his own. Longer flight feathers are a sign of greater age and quality in kingbirds, so males with this trait are expected to spend more time pursui...

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The Effect of Breeding Synchrony On Extra-Pair Mating Systems in Songbirds

Cited by 323 publications

References 46 publications

No evidence for acoustic mate-guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis)

No evidence for acoustic mate-guarding in duetting buff-breasted wrens (Thryothorus leucotis)

Reproductive Seasonality of Seven Neotropical Passerine Species

Behavioral Observation and Paternal Investment of Eastern Kingbirds at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

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