No relationship found between extra-pair paternity and reproductive
investment in varied tits (Sittiparus varius), but pair members exhibit
similar nest defense behaviour
Abstract
The reproductive investment strategy is important for the survival and
reproduction of parents. Yet, due to extra-pair copulation behavior of
female, socially monogamous males may end up making reproductive
investment in some offspring that, in terms of genetics, are not theirs.
Our study centered on varied tits (Sittiparus varius), a socially
monogamous species with high proportion of extra-pair paternity. We
compared male and female reproductive investment (nest defense and brood
investment) and tested if extra-pair paternity, mate’s body condition,
and mate’s investment affect their reproductive investment. Results
showed that, the nest defense strength of males and females the
difference was non-significant; and on feeding frequency, the difference
was clear: females were significantly higher than that of males. With or
without of extra-pair offspring, mate’s body condition and mate’s
feeding frequency were not significantly related to parental
reproductive investment. On one kind of reproductive investment, the
strength of nest defense, correlation was detected between social mates.
The relationship between reproduction investment of the bird’s parents
and extra-pair paternity was non-significant, possibly as a result of
males’ current reproductive tradeoffs. In summary, the existence of
extra-pair paternity does not reduce the reproductive investment of
males, the behaviour of mates affects the nest defense strength of
individuals, and it is possible that this is a function of the shared
environment, the exact reasons for which still need to be further
explored.