Extra-Pair Paternity and Intraspecific Brood Parasitism in Wild Zebra Finches Taeniopygia guttata, Revealed by DNA Fingerprinting

• Published in: Behavioral ecology and sociobiology 1990-01, Vol.27 (5), p.315-324
• Main Authors: Birkhead, T. R., Burke, T., R. Zann, Hunter, F. M., A. P. Krupa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal ethology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Bird nesting; Birds; Brood parasitism; Eggs; Female animals; Finches; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male animals; Mating behavior; Ova; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Taeniopygia guttata; Vertebrata; Zebras
• ISSN: 0340-5443; 1432-0762
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00164002

The frequency of extra-pair parentage in a wild population of zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata was examined by DNA fingerprinting. A total of 25 families, comprising 16 pairs of parents and 92 offspring (in broods of 1 to 6) were examined. Ten cases of extra-pair parentage, presumed to constitute intraspecific brood parasitism, were detected (10.9% of offspring or 36% of broods), including one possible instance of 'quasiparasitism' (parasitism by a female fertilized by the male nest owner). The average number of parasitic eggs per clutch detected by fingerprinting was 1.10±0.32 SD, very similar to the one egg difference in average clutch size between parasitised (6.0±0.82) and unparasitised nests (5.0±0.95). Two cases of extra-pair paternity (EPP) were detected among 82 offspring whose maternity was confirmed: 2.4% of offspring, or 8% of broods. In both cases EPP accounted for only a single offspring within a brood. Behavioural observations show that EPP occurs through extra-pair copulation rather than rapid mate switching. The results are discussed in the light of what is known about the fertile period and sperm precedence patterns in this species.