Article Abstract:
A study on the disappearance of male pied flycatchers during their breeding period in Norway reveals that disappearance is maximum during the nestling season due to high predation by European sparrowhawks. Predation mediates plumage maturation and cryptic coloration in male pied flycatchers. Bright colored males are more susceptible to predation as they are more easily spotted by sparrowhawks in comparision to dull colored males. The rate of female disappearance is more than that of dull colored males.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
Experimental manipulation of paternal presence in pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca, was undertaken through mate switching to determine the changes in parental effort relative to reduced paternity. Results reveal that the provisioning efforts undertaken by males declined in the switched broods indicating that males have a reliable indicator of paternity. Further, enhanced paternity behavior is expected in future normal breeding efforts.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
Sperm competition in birds has caused males to evolve adaptions to ensure that their sperm fertilizes the female's eggs. An experiment with pied flycatchers seeks to discover the success of copulations when the female is fertile. Mate switching, with the subsequent analysis of egg clutches using DNA techniques, was found to markedly influence paternity around the onset of laying.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: