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Extra-pair behaviour

  • Chapter
Animal Behaviour: Evolution and Mechanisms

Abstract

In many socially monogamous species, males and females pursue copulations with individuals other than their social mate. The outcome of this behaviour is that broods often contain offspring of mixed paternity. Here, we first show how the frequency of extra-pair paternity varies among species and among populations of the same species, and we discuss how this variation can be explained. We then examine potential costs and benefits of extra-pair behaviour for males and females. Extra-pair behaviour in both sexes might have evolved because it allows males to produce more offspring. Female extra-pair behaviour could also be favoured by selection because it increases female fitness, for example through increased offspring quality. In the third part of this chapter, we consider some of the evolutionary consequences of the occurrence of extra-pair behaviour. In particular, we evaluate how extra-pair behaviour influences the strength of sexual selection.

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  1. Dept. Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics, MPI for Ornithology, Seewiesen, Germany

    Bart Kempenaers & Emmi Schlicht

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  1. Dept. of Sociobiology/Anthropology & CRC Evolution of Social Behavior & German Primate Center, Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Peter Kappeler

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Kempenaers, B., Schlicht, E. (2010). Extra-pair behaviour. In: Kappeler, P. (eds) Animal Behaviour: Evolution and Mechanisms. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02624-9_13

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