The polygynandrous mating system of the alpine accentor, Prunella collaris. II. Multiple paternity and parental effort

摘要: Parentage was determined by DNA fingerprinting for 110 young from 38 broods. There no intraspecific brood parasitism and were fathered males outside the polygynandrous group. Nineteen (50%) broods one male (15 alpha, four beta), 17 two (14 alpha beta, gamma, beta gamma) three (alpha, gamma). A male's paternity share of a increased with his matings, measured as proportion time he gained exclusive access to female. This relationship same males, which suggests that their copulations equal potency. Alpha larger guarding fertile females overall within group tended increase female nesting asynchrony, although not significantly so, decrease more competing subordinate males. Males likely help feed nestlings if they greater matings mother. difference between in probability helping mating share. Given choice synchronous broods, preferred where greatest. When helped at nest feeds reflected dominance rank. only nest, decreased amount share, whereas did not. may arise because have chances other group, so opportunity costs are them. How these different responses influence preference versus is discussed.