title: Extra-pair paternity in the long-tailed finch Poephila acuticauda.
abstract: Although the majority of passerine birds are socially monogamous, true genetic monogamy is rare, with extra-pair paternity (EPP) occurring in almost 90% of surveyed socially monogamous species. We present the first molecular data on the genetic breeding system of the long-tailed finch, Poephila acuticauda, a grass finch endemic to the tropical northern savannah of Australia. Although the species forms socially monogamous pair bonds during the breeding season, we found that extra-pair males sired 12.8% of 391 offspring, in 25.7% of 101 broods. Our findings provide only the second estimate of extra-pair paternity in the estrildid finch family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Australia.
authors.forename: Erica P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: van Rooij
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Lee A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Rollins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Australia; Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Holleley
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University , Australia.
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Griffith
keywords: Estrildid; Extra-pair paternity; Infidelity; Polyandry; Sexual selection; Social monogamy