No evidence for extrapair fertilizations in the merlin revealed by DNA fingerprinting.
Broods of young merlins were compared with the adults in attendance at their nest by DNA fingerprinting. No offspring were found that mismatched genetically suggesting that intraspecific brood parasitism and extrapair fertilization are very rare in this population. The results are discussed in the light of the Paternity Assurance Hypothesis.
Warkentin
I G
IG
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008-2598.
Curzon
A D
AD
Carter
R E
RE
Wetton
J H
JH
James
P C
PC
Oliphant
L W
LW
Parkin
D T
DT
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D008297:Male; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012525:Saskatchewan
D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C024403:GGCC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases