Abstract
STUDIES of mating systems are often hindered by an inability to determine parentage unequivocally. DNA fingerprinting advanced the field by allowing determination of parentage1–3 especially when alternate mating tactics such as extra-pair fertilizations and parasitic egg-laying are used4–6. A very different, yet essentially unexplored, alternate mating tactic involves fertilization by the sperm of previous mates that is stored for long periods of time. Some birds have the potential to be fertilized by sperm stored in the oviduct for over a month7, but studies of long-term sperm storage among wild birds are limited. In the polyandrous spotted sandpiper (Actitis maculario), territorial females pair with, defend and lay clutches for several males in rapid succession. Here we report that males pairing early in the season cuckold their females' later mates by means of stored sperm. Thus, early-pairing males not only have greater confidence of paternity, but also increase their reproductive success by fertilizing a proportion of eggs laid for, and incubated by, their females' subsequent mates, in addition to those they incubate themselves.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Get just this article for as long as you need it
$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Jeffreys, A. J., Wilson, V. & Thein, S. L. Nature 316, 76–79 (1985).
Gyllensten, U. B., Jakobsson, S. & Temrin, H. Nature 343, 168–170 (1990).
Kempenaers, B. et al. Nature 357, 494–496 (1992).
Burke, T., Davies, N. B., Bruford, M. W. & Hatchwell, B. J. Nature 338, 249–251 (1989).
Burke, T. & Bruford, M. W. Nature 327, 149–152 (1987).
Birkhead, T. R., Burke, T., Zann, R., Hunter, F. M. & Krupa, A. P. Behavl Ecol. Sociobiol. 27, 315–324 (1990).
Birkhead, T. R. Adv. Study Behav. 18, 35–72 (1988).
Oring, L. W. & Lank, D. B. Behavl Ecol. Sociobiol. 10, 185–191 (1982).
Oring, L. W., Lank, D. B. & Maxson, S. J. Auk 100, 272–285 (1983).
Oring, L. W. & Lank, D. B. in Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution (eds Rubenstein, D. I. & Wrangham, R. W.) 21–42 (Princeton Univ, Press, Princeton, 1986).
Maxson, S. J. & Oring, L. W. Behaviour 74, 200–263 (1980).
Oring, L. W. in Avian Biology Vol. 6 (eds Farner. D. S., King, J. R. & Parkes, K. C.) 1–92 (Academic, New York, 1982).
Oring, L. W. Curr. Orn. 3, 309–351 (1986).
Oring, L. W., Reed, J. M., Colwell, M. A., Lank, D. B. & Maxson, S. J. Behavl Ecol. Sociobiol. 28, 433–442 (1991).
Colwell, M. A. & Oring, L. W. Anim. Behav. 38, 675–684 (1989).
Hatch, S. A. Auk 100, 593–600 (1983).
Shugart, G. W. Auk 105, 379–384 (1988).
Whitfield, D. P. Behavl Ecol. Sociobiol. 27, 247–254 (1990).
Møller, A. P. & Birkhead, T. R. Behaviour 118, 170–176 (1991).
Birkhead, T. R. & Møller, A. P. Sperm Competition in Birds: Evolutionary Causes and Consequences (Academic, London, 1992).
Møller, A. P. & Birkhead, T. R. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. Lond. 38, 119–131 (1989).
Birkhead, T. R., Atkin, L. & Møller, A. P. Behaviour 101, 101–138 (1987).
Burke, T. Trends Ecol. Evol. 4, 139–144 (1989).
Rice, W. R. Biometrics 44, 1–22 (1988).
Zenone, P. G., Sims, M. E. & Erickson, C. J. Am. Nat. 114, 615–626 (1979).
Birkhead, T. R., Pellatt, J. & Hunter, F. M. Nature 334, 60–62 (1988).
Westneat, D. F., Noon, W. A., Reeve, H. K. & Aquardo, C. F. Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 4161 (1988).
Westneat, D. F. Behavl Ecol. Sociobiol. 27, 67–76 (1990).
Lansman, R. A., Shade, R. O., Shapiro, J. F. & Avise, J. D. J. molec. Evol. 17, 214–226 (1981).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oring, L., Fleischer, R., Reed, J. et al. Cuckoldry through stored sperm in the sequentially polyandrous spotted sandpiper. Nature 359, 631–633 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/359631a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/359631a0
This article is cited by
-
Providing parental care entails variable mating opportunity costs for male Temminck’s stints
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2014)
-
Breaking the rules: sex roles and genetic mating system of the pheasant coucal
Oecologia (2011)
-
Mate guarding, copulation strategies and paternity in the sex-role reversed, socially polyandrous red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2004)
-
Genetic mating system and timing of extra-pair fertilizations in the Kentish plover
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology (2004)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
