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Analysis of genetic parentage in the tawny owl (Strix aluco) reveals extra-pair paternity is low

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Abstract

We have investigated genetic parentage in a Swiss population of tawny owls (Strix aluco). To this end, we performed genetic analysis for six polymorphic loci of 49 avian microsatellite loci tested for cross-species amplification. We found one extra-pair young out of 137 (0.7%) nestlings in 37 families (2.7%). There was no intra-specific brood parasitism. Our results are in accordance with previous findings for other raptors and owls that genetic monogamy is the rule. Female tawny owls cannot raise offspring without a substantial contribution by their mates. Hence one favoured hypothesis is that high paternal investment in reproduction selects for behaviour that prevents cuckoldry.

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Acknowledgments

The study was financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants 31-53956.98 to H.R., P00A-102913 to A.R. and PP00A-109009 to P.B.). We are grateful to Pierre-Alain Ravussin for allowing us to study his tawny owl population. Blood sampling and capture of breeding tawny owls were conducted with legal authority from the “Service vétérinaire du canton de Vaud, no. 1508”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Evolutionary Ecology, Zoological Institute, University of Bern, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    Verena Saladin, Mathias Ritschard & Heinz Richner

  2. Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Alexandre Roulin

  3. Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Glasgow University, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    Pierre Bize

Authors
  1. Verena Saladin
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  2. Mathias Ritschard
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  3. Alexandre Roulin
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  4. Pierre Bize
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  5. Heinz Richner
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Correspondence to Verena Saladin.

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Communicated by M. Wink.

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Saladin, V., Ritschard, M., Roulin, A. et al. Analysis of genetic parentage in the tawny owl (Strix aluco) reveals extra-pair paternity is low. J Ornithol 148, 113–116 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0109-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0109-x

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