Low Frequency Of Extra-Pair Paternity And High Frequency OfAdoption In Black-Legged Kittiwakes

• Main Authors: Helfenstein, Fabrice, Tirard, Claire, Danchin, Etienne
• Other Authors: Fonctionnement et évolution des systèmes écologiques (FESE), École normale supérieure - Paris (ENS-PSL), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2004
• Subjects: [Extra-pair paternity]; [Adoption]; [Marine birds]; [Activity patterns]; [exual behaviour]; [Biological fertilization]; [Males]; [Parentalbehaviour]; [Juveniles]; [Habitat selection]; [Nests]; [Protectivebehaviour]; [Intraspecific relationships]; [Colonies]; [Rissa tridactyla]; [SDV.BID.EVO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity/Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Black-legged Kittiwake; rissa tridactyla
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-00086051; https://doi.org/10.1043/0010-5422(2004)106(0149:LFOEPA)2.0.CO;2

We studied the timing and frequency of extra-pair copulations andextra-pair fertilizations in the Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissatridactyla), a socially monogamous seabird that breeds in densecolonies. We recorded 313 copulations by 82 marked pairs in 25 000nest-hr over three years. We recorded only two extra-paircopulations, both of which were obtained by opportunistic malesthat disrupted pair copulations in progress. Pairs performed amean of 14 copulations per clutch suggesting that males maycopulate relatively frequently for paternity assurance. Ourparentage analysis based on eight microsatellite markers did notdetect any extra-pair paternity in 119 offspring from 86 broods;however we did detect three cases of adoption caused by chicksmoving to adjacent nests. The between-nest movement of a minimumof 8% of chicks suggests that escaping siblicide may be anadaptive strategy for some nestlings, despite the risk of fallinginto the sea and drowning (observed in 11 of 21 chicks).OriginalAbstract: Estudiamos la frecuencia de copulas y fertilizacionesextra-pareja y el momento en que estas ocurrieron en Rissatridactyla, un ave marina socialmente monogama que se reproduce encolonias densas. Registramos 313 copulas por parte de 82 parejasmarcadas en 25 000 horas-nido a traves de tres anos. Registramossolo dos copulas extra-pareja, ambas obtenidas por machosoportunistas que perturbaron copulas que se estaban efectuandoentre miembros de una pareja. Las parejas realizaron un promediode 14 copulas por nidada, lo que sugiere que los machos estariancopulando frecuentemente para asegurar su paternidad. Nuestrosanalisis basados en ocho marcadores microsatelites no detectaronninguna instancia de paternidad extra-pareja en 119 crias de 86nidadas. Sin embargo, detectamos tres casos de adopcion causadospor el movimiento de pichones a nidos adyacentes. El movimientoentre nidos de al menos el 8% de los pichones sugiere que escapardel siblicidio podria ser una estrategia adaptativa para algunosde estos, a pesar del riesgo de caer al mar ...