| Maternal effects contribute to the superior performance of extra-pair offspring. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 19409787 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
The explanation for extra-pair mating in female birds remains poorly understood and contentious [1-7]. Several leading hypotheses propose that females benefit indirectly by enhancing the genetic quality of their offspring, through good genes or genetic compatibility effects [1, 8, 9]. Supporting this idea, recent studies have identified a range of fitness-related traits for which extra-pair offspring (EPO) are superior to their within-pair (WP) half-siblings [10-21]. However, such performance differences may result from nongenetic maternal effects if EPO are positioned earlier in the laying order and benefit from the advantages of earlier hatching [22, 23]. Here we show that EPO are larger, heavier, and more likely to fledge than their WP half-siblings in a population of blue tits, Cyanistes caeruleus. However, extra-pair paternity declined markedly with laying order, resulting in EPO generally hatching earlier. After correcting for variation in hatch time, none of the observed disparities between EPO and their WP half-siblings remained significant. These findings indicate that phenotypic comparisons between maternal half-siblings must consider potential hatching-order effects and suggest that the evidence for genetic benefits from extra-pair copulation may be less compelling than currently accepted. Moreover, the overrepresentation of EPO early in the laying order may help explain female extra-pair mating. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Michael J L Magrath; Oscar Vedder; Marco van der Velde; Jan Komdeur |
Related Documents
:
|
1612927 - Evolution of reproductive systems in filamentous ascomycetes. ii. evolution of hermaphr... 16280537 - Strong and weak male mutation bias at different sites in the primate genomes: insights ... 1266847 - The occurrence of new mutants in the x-linked recessive lesch-nyhan disease. 10191717 - Suppressor genes with gender differences in activity in natural populations of drosophi... 12622447 - Deregulation of the p14arf/mdm2/p53 pathway and g1/s transition in two glioblastoma sets. 19207377 - Sensitizing capacity and cross-reactivity of phenyl glycidyl ether studied in the guine... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2009-04-30 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Current biology : CB Volume: 19 ISSN: 1879-0445 ISO Abbreviation: Curr. Biol. Publication Date: 2009 May |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2009-05-14 Completed Date: 2009-08-11 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9107782 Medline TA: Curr Biol Country: England |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 792-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, The Netherlands. magrath@unimelb.edu.au |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Animals Birth Order* Body Constitution / physiology* Body Weights and Measures Female Genotype Microsatellite Repeats / genetics Netherlands Passeriformes / physiology* Phenotype* Polymerase Chain Reaction Sex Determination (Analysis) Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology* Survival Analysis |
| Comments/Corrections | |
Comment In:
|
Curr Biol. 2009 May 12;19(9):R364-6
[PMID:
19439257
]
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Spontaneous motor entrainment to music in multiple vocal mimicking species.
Next Document: Bidirectional flower color and shape changes allow a second opportunity for pollination.