Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox
Extrapair paternity (EPP) is described in many socially monogamous species, but within-population variability in its frequency is poorly documented. Availability and distribution of food may influence polyandrous behaviors, either directly by affecting the need for paternal care or indirectly via th...
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ftrepec:oai:RePEc:oup:beheco:v:22:y:2011:i:6:p:1364-1373 2024-04-14T08:05:51+00:00 Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox Cassandra Cameron Dominique Berteaux France Dufresne http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr158 unknown http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr158 article ftrepec 2024-03-19T10:29:16Z Extrapair paternity (EPP) is described in many socially monogamous species, but within-population variability in its frequency is poorly documented. Availability and distribution of food may influence polyandrous behaviors, either directly by affecting the need for paternal care or indirectly via their effect on population density. We quantified the frequency of EPP in a population of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), a predominantly socially monogamous species with high paternal investment. We then tested whether spatial (presence of a goose colony) and temporal (cycles of lemmings) variations in food availability were linked to variations in mating systems within the population. From 2003 to 2008, we studied the mating systems of arctic foxes on Bylot Island (Nunavut, Canada) by combining molecular analyses with behavioral observations during cub rearing. Although the dominant social mating system was monogamy, at least 31% of cubs with known social father were born from extrapair matings (in 10 of 38 litters sampled). Likelihood of EPP was associated with food availability. It was greatest (86%) at the center of the goose colony and decreased sharply with increasing distance from it. EPP can thus be frequent in the socially monogamous arctic fox, and intraspecific variability in extrapair matings is strongly correlated with food availability during cub rearing. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Fox Arctic Bylot Island Nunavut Vulpes lagopus RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) Arctic Bylot Island Canada Nunavut |
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RePEc (Research Papers in Economics) |
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description |
Extrapair paternity (EPP) is described in many socially monogamous species, but within-population variability in its frequency is poorly documented. Availability and distribution of food may influence polyandrous behaviors, either directly by affecting the need for paternal care or indirectly via their effect on population density. We quantified the frequency of EPP in a population of arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), a predominantly socially monogamous species with high paternal investment. We then tested whether spatial (presence of a goose colony) and temporal (cycles of lemmings) variations in food availability were linked to variations in mating systems within the population. From 2003 to 2008, we studied the mating systems of arctic foxes on Bylot Island (Nunavut, Canada) by combining molecular analyses with behavioral observations during cub rearing. Although the dominant social mating system was monogamy, at least 31% of cubs with known social father were born from extrapair matings (in 10 of 38 litters sampled). Likelihood of EPP was associated with food availability. It was greatest (86%) at the center of the goose colony and decreased sharply with increasing distance from it. EPP can thus be frequent in the socially monogamous arctic fox, and intraspecific variability in extrapair matings is strongly correlated with food availability during cub rearing. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Cassandra Cameron Dominique Berteaux France Dufresne |
spellingShingle |
Cassandra Cameron Dominique Berteaux France Dufresne Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
author_facet |
Cassandra Cameron Dominique Berteaux France Dufresne |
author_sort |
Cassandra Cameron |
title |
Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
title_short |
Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
title_full |
Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
title_fullStr |
Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
title_full_unstemmed |
Spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
title_sort |
spatial variation in food availability predicts extrapair paternity in the arctic fox |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr158 |
geographic |
Arctic Bylot Island Canada Nunavut |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Bylot Island Canada Nunavut |
genre |
Arctic Fox Arctic Bylot Island Nunavut Vulpes lagopus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Fox Arctic Bylot Island Nunavut Vulpes lagopus |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arr158 |
_version_ |
1796302454185263104 |