Genetic mating system, population genetics and effective size of Saffron Finches breeding in southern South America

Saldívar, María Juliana Benítez; Massoni, Viviana

doi:10.1007/s10709-019-00072-4

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…It is known to be a granivorous, secondary cavity nester – nesting in natural cavities as well as in nest boxes (Mason 1985, Palmerio and Massoni 2011, Espinosa et al 2017). The saffron finch is socially monogamous and adults remain together throughout the breeding season (Marcondes‐Machado 1982, Palmerio and Massoni 2009, 2011), although a recent study (Benítez Saldívar et al 2019) uncovered moderate to intermediate rates of extra pair paternity, suggesting the genetic mating system to be non‐monogamous. In the tropics, the saffron finch appears to reproduce all year round with reproductive peaks corresponding to the rainy season (Espinosa et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental investment does not directly affect reproductive success in the saffron finch

Burnham

Cruz-Bernate

2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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In tropical species, the study of parental care and the description of the intraspecific variation of parental care remain relatively understudied, especially when compared to the vast works dedicated to species from the Northern Hemisphere. In Colombia, the saffron finch Sicalis flaveola, is a species with a wide geographical distribution, and despite its abundance in open habitats and urban environments, little is known about its reproductive ecology. As a small-bodied, short-lived passerine, we postulated that the saffron finch should behave according to the 'reproductive value hypothesis', investing in the current brood at the expense of future survival. Consequently, we predicted: 1) that parental investment would be associated with brood size and 2) parental investment would be positively associated with nestling growth rate and reproductive success (defined as the number of nestlings which reached fledging age). In 2018, two reproductive peaks of S. flaveola flaveola were documented in the Meléndez campus of Universidad del Valle, Cali. Direct observations and video cameras (> 1700 h of recording) were used to monitor the nests from 38 different breeding pairs. We found that feeding visits and the number of regurgitation events were positively related to brood size. In an experiment of simulated nest predation, 85% of breeding pairs responded to the stimulus and parents who exhibited highly responsive behaviours (50%) raised nestlings with a higher growth rate. We also found that egg surface area positively affected the number of incubation bouts per hour. Whilst no relationship was found between overall parental investment and reproductive success, our results appear to show that the intensity of parental investment during reproduction was modulated by brood size. Our findings suggest that there are multiple ecological factors that influence reproductive success in the saffron finch, and reinforce the need for longer term studies of tropical passerines.

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