How Male Courtship Affects Offspring Survival in Houbara Bustards
Author Information
Author(s): Chargé Rémi, Sorci Gabriele, Hingrat Yves, Lacroix Frédéric, Saint Jalme Michel
Primary Institution: Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France
Hypothesis
Offspring sired by males of a preferred phenotype should have better survival in an endangered bird, the houbara bustard.
Conclusion
Paternal genes significantly affect offspring survival, particularly when males can withstand environmental stress.
Supporting Evidence
- Offspring survival was monitored in the wild for a year.
- Natural variation in sire courtship display did not predict offspring survival.
- Sires that maintained their courtship activity after an inflammatory challenge sired offspring with better survival.
- The age of the sire was positively correlated with offspring survival.
Takeaway
This study shows that the way male birds show off can help their babies survive better in the wild.
Methodology
The study involved artificial insemination of females and monitoring the survival of 120 offspring in the wild for a year.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors related to environmental conditions were controlled for, but the study lacked direct evidence of female choice.
Limitations
The study could not directly link female choice to offspring viability.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 15 adult male houbara bustards aged 3 to 7 years and 83 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0053
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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