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Article
High Frequency of Extra-Pair Paternity in Eastern Kingbirds
Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations
  • Michael T. Murphy
  • Diane L. Rowe
  • Robert C. Fleischer
  • Paul G. Wolf, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2001
Disciplines
Abstract

Genetic parentage in the socially monogamous and territorial Eastern Kingbird( Tyrannust tyrannus) was examined in a central New York population by multilocus DNA fingerprinting. Extra-pair young were identified in 60% (12 of 20) of nests. Of the 64 nestlings profiled, 42% were sired by extra-pair males, but no cases of conspecific brood parasitism were detected. These results are markedly different from a previous electrophoretic study of the same species in a Michigan population, which reported 39% of nestlings were unrelated to one (typically the mother, quasiparasitismo)r both (conspecificb roodp arasitism) of the putative parents. In the New York population, extra-pairp aternityw as most common among females that returned to breed on a former territory. Among females that were new to a breeding territory, extrapair paternity increased directly with breeding density. Although the power of the tests was low, neither breeding synchrony nor male experience with a breeding territory appeared to be associated with the occurrence of extra-pair young.

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This is the publisher's final PDF. © 2001 by the Regents of the University of California. Published by the University of California Press.

Citation Information
Michael T. Murphy, Diane L. Rowe, Robert C. Fleischer and Paul G. Wolf. "High Frequency of Extra-Pair Paternity in Eastern Kingbirds" Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations (2001)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/paul_wolf/135/