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Mobbing for matings: dynamics, plumage correlates, and fitness impacts of conspicuous group extra-pair behaviors in the lark bunting

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Abstract

The widespread occurrence of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in birds adds rich complexity to our understanding of sexual selection and mating system evolution. Extra-pair matings are typically cryptic so for most species, we lack the detailed behavioral observations needed to fully determine whether both sexes benefit from EPP and when trait correlations with EPP are found, whether they reflect female choice or male intrasexual competition. Here we examine behavioral and morphological correlates of EPP in the lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys), a grassland songbird where EPP-seeking behaviors of males are unusually overt and conspicuous. Males sought EPP by closely following receptive pairs, often in groups. Virtually all observed extra-pair copulation attempts involved male aggression, were resisted by females, and larger females had a lower rate of extra-pair paternity in their nests. Male plumage traits predicted both male effort in seeking EPP (number of mating groups joined) and fitness gained through EPP; these same male traits have previously been linked to male-male competition but were not linked to consistent mate choice in lark buntings. There was no trade-off between investment in seeking EPP and fitness at a male’s own nest, indicating that fitness from EPP is likely a potent driver of sexual selection in lark buntings, one that may not entirely be driven by female fitness interests.

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Data and code availability

The code and data sets required to replicate these analyses are available in the Dryad Digital Repository (https://doi.org/10.7291/D1B696).

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Acknowledgements

Jeff Barna, Erin Clancey, Amanda Coen, Nina D’Amore, Rikke Jeppesen, Emily Owens, Amy Ritter, Bridget Sousa, Kris Tjernel, Rachel Utzinger, and Kerstin Wasson assisted with data collection. Special thanks to the Pawnee National Grassland for logistic support and to the Jones family for access to their land. We thank David Westneat and an anonymous reviewer for very thorough and helpful reviews that greatly improved the quality of the paper.

Funding

This work was funded by the University of California, the National Geographic Society, a National Science Foundation dissertation improvement grant (IBN-0309215), the American Museum of Natural History Chapman Fund, Sigma Xi, and the American Ornithologist’s Union. ASC is part of the Laboratoire d’Excellence (LABEX) entitled TULIP (ANR-10-LABX-41) and BEL was supported by a Visiting Scholar grant from TULIP during data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Coastal Biology Building, University of California, 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA

    Bruce E. Lyon

  2. Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale du CNRS (UAR2029), 09200 Moulis and Toulouse School of Economics Institute for Advance Studies in Toulouse, 31000, Toulouse, France

    Alexis S. Chaine

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BEL and ASC designed research; BEL and ASC performed research; ASC and BEL analyzed data; BEL wrote the first draft of the paper and ASC and BEL revised drafts.

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Correspondence to Bruce E. Lyon.

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Field work was conducted under permits from the USFWS Banding Office, the state of Colorado, and the University of California, Santa Cruz Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the use of animals were followed.

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This article is a contribution to the Topical Collection Measuring individual reproductive success in the wild—Guest Editors: Marco Festa-Bianchet, Janet Mann.

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Lyon, B.E., Chaine, A.S. Mobbing for matings: dynamics, plumage correlates, and fitness impacts of conspicuous group extra-pair behaviors in the lark bunting. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 76, 119 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-022-03216-3

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