Ultimate drivers of forced extra-pair copulations in birds lacking a penis: jackdaws as a case-study

作者：Rebecca Hooper, Kathryn H. Maher, Karen Moore, Guillam E. McIvor, David J. Hosken, Alex Thornton · 发表于：Royal Society Open Science · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1098/rsos.231226 · 被引用次数：10 · 研究领域：Plant and animal studies、Avian ecology and behavior、Plant Reproductive Biology

Forced copulation is common, presumably because it can increase male reproductive success. Forced extra-pair copulation (FEPC) occurs in birds, even though most species lack a penis and are widely thought to require female cooperation for fertilization. How FEPC persists, despite a presumed lack of siring success and likely non-negligible costs to the male, is unknown. Using the jackdaw ( Corvus monedula ) as a case study, we use SNPs to quantify the extra-pair paternity rate through FEPC and evaluate explanations for the persistence of FEPC in species without a penis. We then collate evidence for FEPC across penis-lacking birds. Combining genetic and behavioural analyses, our study suggests that the most likely explanations for the maintenance of FEPC in jackdaws are that it provides a selective advantage to males or it is a relic. Our literature review shows that across birds lacking a penis, FEPC is taxonomically widespread, and yet, little is known about its evolution. A broader implementation of the approach used here, combining both genetic and behavioural data, may shed light on why this widespread sexual behaviour persists. Additional work is necessary to understand whether a penis is needed for paternity through forced copulation and to quantify the costs of FEPC.