Journal
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Volume 22, Issue 10, Pages 2020-2030Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2009.01815.x
Keywords
extra-pair paternity; sexual selection; variance in fitness; within-pair reproductive success
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Funding
- Czech Science Foundation [GACR 206/06/0851]
- Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic [MSMT 0021620828]
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic [AV0Z60930519, IAA600930608]
- Research Centrum Project [LC06073]
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Despite considerable research effort, it remains unclear whether extra-pair fertilizations (EPF) drive the evolution of male secondary ornamentation in socially monogamous systems. In this study, we test the hypothesis that EPF contribute to the evolution or maintenance of male feather ornamentation in a sexually dichromatic passerine, the Scarlet Rosefinch, Carpodacus erythrinus. We show that the colouration of ornamental breast feathers is a good predictor of basic sources of variation in male annual reproductive output in rosefinches and that the annual realized reproductive success of males is positively associated with measures of ornamental colouration only when gains and losses because of EPF are considered. The results indicate that EPF in rosefinches may rely on absolute (good genes) rather than self referential (genetic complementarity) criteria of mate choice. Our study corroborates the potentially important role of EPF in the evolution and/or maintenance of elaborate male ornaments in socially monogamous taxa.
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