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Determinants of male floating behaviour and floater reproduction in a threatened population of the hihi (Notiomystis cincta)

Determinants of male floating behaviour and floater reproduction in a threatened population of the hihi (Notiomystis cincta)
Determinants of male floating behaviour and floater reproduction in a threatened population of the hihi (Notiomystis cincta)
Floating males are usually thought of as nonbreeders. However, some floating individuals are able to reproduce through extra-pair copulations. Floater reproductive success can impact breeders’ sex ratio, reproductive variance, multiple paternity and inbreeding, particularly in small populations. Changes in reproductive variance alter the rate of genetic drift and loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, genetic management of threatened species requires an understanding of floater reproduction and determinants of floating behaviour to effectively conserve species. Here, we used a pedigreed, free-living population of the endangered New Zealand hihi (Notiomystis cincta) to assess variance in male reproductive success and test the genetic (inbreeding and heritability) and conditional (age and size) factors that influence floater behaviour and reproduction. Floater reproduction is common in this species. However, floater individuals have lower reproductive success and variance in reproductive success than territorial males (total and extra-pair fledglings), so their relative impact on the population's reproductive performance is low. Whether an individual becomes a floater, and if so then how successful they are, is determined mainly by individual age (young and old) and to lesser extents male size (small) and inbreeding level (inbred). Floating males have a small, but important role in population reproduction and persistence of threatened populations.
bayesian animal model, heritability, inbreeding, senescence, sexual selection, territorial
1752-4563
796-806
Brekke, Patricia
8497bb41-62da-4469-a518-feccc50c160b
Ewen, John G.
ab1130cc-cae8-405b-a08f-3dac7fa5ce1d
Clucas, Gemma
01c99eb2-5dbb-4f55-847c-1283065b40e1
Santure, Anna W.
eaaad206-5a4e-4c71-b37d-70efc8083ca3
Brekke, Patricia
8497bb41-62da-4469-a518-feccc50c160b
Ewen, John G.
ab1130cc-cae8-405b-a08f-3dac7fa5ce1d
Clucas, Gemma
01c99eb2-5dbb-4f55-847c-1283065b40e1
Santure, Anna W.
eaaad206-5a4e-4c71-b37d-70efc8083ca3

Brekke, Patricia, Ewen, John G., Clucas, Gemma and Santure, Anna W. (2015) Determinants of male floating behaviour and floater reproduction in a threatened population of the hihi (Notiomystis cincta). Evolutionary Applications, 8 (8), 796-806. (doi:10.1111/eva.12287).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Floating males are usually thought of as nonbreeders. However, some floating individuals are able to reproduce through extra-pair copulations. Floater reproductive success can impact breeders’ sex ratio, reproductive variance, multiple paternity and inbreeding, particularly in small populations. Changes in reproductive variance alter the rate of genetic drift and loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, genetic management of threatened species requires an understanding of floater reproduction and determinants of floating behaviour to effectively conserve species. Here, we used a pedigreed, free-living population of the endangered New Zealand hihi (Notiomystis cincta) to assess variance in male reproductive success and test the genetic (inbreeding and heritability) and conditional (age and size) factors that influence floater behaviour and reproduction. Floater reproduction is common in this species. However, floater individuals have lower reproductive success and variance in reproductive success than territorial males (total and extra-pair fledglings), so their relative impact on the population's reproductive performance is low. Whether an individual becomes a floater, and if so then how successful they are, is determined mainly by individual age (young and old) and to lesser extents male size (small) and inbreeding level (inbred). Floating males have a small, but important role in population reproduction and persistence of threatened populations.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 28 June 2015
Published date: September 2015
Keywords: bayesian animal model, heritability, inbreeding, senescence, sexual selection, territorial
Organisations: Ocean and Earth Science

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 379762
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/379762
ISSN: 1752-4563
PURE UUID: 36ca511b-c349-4898-b4bb-546ca7b4a33d
ORCID for Gemma Clucas: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4305-1719

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Date deposited: 29 Jul 2015 09:31
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 20:47

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Contributors

Author: Patricia Brekke
Author: John G. Ewen
Author: Gemma Clucas ORCID iD
Author: Anna W. Santure

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