Low Extra-Pair Paternity in White-Tailed Ptarmigan
Benson DP. 2002. Low Extra-Pair Paternity in White-Tailed Ptarmigan. The Condor. 104(1):192-197
The White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopusleucurus) is one of the few socially monogamous specieswithin the highly polygynous grouse subfamily(Tetraoninae)I. found White-tailedP tarmigani n GlacierNational Park, Montana, to be nearly geneticallymonogamous. Of 58 chicks with putative fathers identified,three were the result of extra-pair copulations(5%). Three of 18 clutches (17%) contained extra-pairoffspring.I suggest that White-tailedP tarmiganm alesare able to guard their females effectively from extrapaircopulations because of high visibility in their habitatand their ability to forage alongside their mate. Thethree extra-pair offspring were sired by unknownmales
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Benson, David
- Units
- GLAC
- Keywords
- paternal care, Glacier National Park, Lagopus leucurus, Logan Pass, mate guarding, monogamy, paternity, White-tailed Ptarmigan, Wildlife Biology