Extra-pair sires as identified by means of standardized across-gel comparisons of multilocus DNA fingerprints.
Molecular analyses of genetic parentage in wild bird populations demonstrate that extra-pair paternity (EPP) is common, even in socially monogamous species. After having identified extra-pair offspring (EPO), an important step is to uncover the identity of extra-pair sires (EPS). Studies relying on multilocus DNA fingerprinting face the problem that simple between-gel comparisons of fingerprint banding patterns are imprecise in assigning parentage across gels. To tackle this problem, we developed a method to identify EPS by means of standardized across-gel comparisons of multilocus DNA fingerprints and applied it in a socially monogamous bird species with high levels of EPP, the coal tit (Parus ater). Scanned DNA fingerprint gels and standard image-editing software allowed to screen and reliably identify EPS. Overall, EPP was successfully assigned to 32 different EPS for 143 out of 210 (68.1%) EPO detected. This corresponds well to extra-pair parentage assignment rates revealed by microsatellite-based studies in congeneric species. Our approach proves especially useful whenever multilocus DNA fingerprints for parentage exclusion exist while microsatellite markers are not available.
Schmoll
Tim
T
Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 1, D-53121 Bonn, Germany. tschmoll@evolution.uni-bonn.de
Janzon
Volker
V
Epplen
Jörg T
JT
Lubjuhn
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005819:Genetic Markers; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D010334:Paternity; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D012984:Software
D005819:Genetic Markers