Lifetime offspring production in relation to breeding lifespan, attractiveness, and mating status in male collared flycatchers

Abstract

As a comprehensive fitness parameter, lifetime reproductive success (LRS) is influenced by many different environmental and genetic factors, among which longevity is one of the most important. These factors can be reflected in secondary sexual characters, which may affect the life histories of individuals via social relations with conspecifics. Facultative polygyny in birds is another conspicuous reproductive trait that potentially increases male reproductive success, but lifetime success data in relation to polygyny are scarce. Here, we used 17 years of breeding data to quantify the LRS of male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) on the basis of lifetime recruitment of offspring. Breeding lifespan showed a positive relationship with LRS, and it was also significantly associated with mean recruitment of offspring per breeding year. Body size and sexually selected forehead patch size did not predict the number of recruits. Polygyny was positively associated with LRS, but when we corrected for lifespan, this relationship disappeared. Our results demonstrate that the relationship between longevity and LRS is not explained by the higher number of reproductive attempts when living longer, and question the adaptive value of polygyny in this population. The lack of association between forehead patch size and recruitment suggests that forehead patch is a poor indicator of phenotypic quality in our birds.

Laying date and polygyny as determinants of annual reproductive success in male collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis): a long-term study

“…On the other hand, our results are in agreement with those of earlier studies performed in this population, suggesting that this trait is a poor indicator of genetic or phenotypic quality in our birds (Garamszegi et al 2006;Hegyi et al 2002Hegyi et al , 2006Hegyi et al , 2007Hargitai et al 2012; but see Hegyi et al 2011, Markó et al 2011. Furthermore, in a recent long-term study we showed that forehead patch size did not predict lifetime offspring recruitment (Herényi et al 2012). We can assume that the advantages of large forehead patch may appear in other processes of sexual selection, such as extra-pair paternity.…”

“…In facultatively polygynous species, males can also increase their reproductive output by acquiring a second female. However, in birds, the advantage of polygynous males is not so obvious when considering the recruitment rate of offspring to the breeding population (Lubjuhn et al 2000;Pribil 2000;Herényi et al 2012). Males cannot feed two broods at the same intensity as only one brood, which results in lower fledging condition at least in the secondary brood of polygynous males.…”

Shell thickness and pore density in relation to shell colouration, female characteristics, and environmental factors in the Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis

“…The Collared Flycatcher is a long-distance migratory, insectivorous passerine. This species is predominantly monogamous (Garamszegi et al 2004b;Herényi et al 2010), and females usually lay five to seven eggs of one clutch per breeding season (Török et al 2004). Collared Flycatcher eggs appear light blue-green in the human visible spectrum, and have a peak of reflectance at 490 nm at the visible spectrum, and at 320 nm at UV wavelengths (Hargitai et al 2008).…”

Variation in selection pressure acting on body size by age and sex in a reverse sexual size dimorphic raptor

“…Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis (Herényi et al . ) or Long‐tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus (MacColl & Hatchwell ), and others identifying circumstances where body size appears to influence LRS. For example, Murphy () found that smaller female Eastern Kingbirds Tyrannus tyrannus produced more offspring during their lifetime, which he attributed to lower maintenance costs and more efficient use of available energy resources.…”