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Abstract
Although the majority of passerine birds are socially monogamous, true genetic monogamy is rare, with extra-pair paternity (EPP) occurring in almost 90% of surveyed socially monogamous species. We present the first molecular data on the genetic breeding system of the long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda, a grass finch endemic to the tropical northern savannah of Australia. Although the species forms socially monogamous pair bonds during the breeding season, we found that extra-pair males sired 12.8% of 391 offspring, in 25.7% of 101 broods. Our findings provide only the second estimate of extra-pair paternity in the estrildid finch family.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e1550 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | PeerJ |
Volume | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 5 Jan 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Copyright the Author(s) 2016. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.Keywords
- Estrildid
- Extra-pair paternity
- Infidelity
- Polyandry
- Sexual selection
- Social monogamy
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Dive into the research topics of 'Extra-pair paternity in the long-tailed finch Poephila acuticauda'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Mate choice near and far: Genetic compatibility, sexual selection, and speciation in australian grass finches
1/01/08 → 31/12/13
Project: Research