La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Molecular genetic evidence for mixed maternity in broods of the Coal Tit Parus ater (2008)
Auteurs :	Tim Schmoll, Auteur ; Wolfgang Winkel, Auteur ; Thomas Lubjuhn, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Vogelwarte (46(3) AUG 2008)
Article en page(s) :	223-227
Langues:	Allemand
Résumé :	Molecular genetic analysis of parentage revealed a low frequency of mixed maternity in broods of the Coal Tit, a socially monogamous passerine with a high frequency of extra-pair paternity. Mixed maternity was detected in four (= 0.8 %) out of 483 analysed broods. For ten (= 0.3 %) out of 3563 successfully genotyped offspring the attending putative (social) mother was excluded from genetic parentage. Given the very low frequency of mixed maternity, social reproductive success can conveniently be equated with genetic reproductive success for female Coal Tits in evolutionary studies. Attending putative fathers were excluded from genetic parentage in all cases, too, ruling out quasi-parasitism as a mechanistic explanation for mixed maternity In one case, the pair members from an adjacent territory were unequivocally identified as the genetic parents of a single offspring (they were simultaneously attending their own brood). Possible mechanisms leading to mixed maternity broods in the Coal Tit may include nest/clutch take-over and intraspecific brood parasitism and their respective relevance is briefly discussed.

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