Extra-pair copulation

Extra-pair copulation (EPC) is a mating behaviour in monogamous species. Monogamy is the practice of having only one sexual partner at any one time, forming a long-term bond and combining efforts to raise offspring together; mating outside this pairing is extra-pair copulation.[1] Across the animal kingdom, extra-pair copulation is common in monogamous species, and only a very few pair-bonded species are thought to be exclusively sexually monogamous. EPC in the animal kingdom has mostly been studied in birds and mammals.[2][3][4] Possible benefits of EPC can be investigated within non-human species, such as birds.[5]

For males, a number of theories are proposed to explain extra-pair copulations. One such hypothesis is that males maximise their reproductive success by copulating with as many females as possible outside of a pair bond relationship because their parental investment is lower, meaning they can copulate and leave the female with minimum risk to themselves. Females, on the other hand, have to invest a lot more in their offspring; extra-pair copulations produce a greater cost because they put the resources that their mate can offer at risk by copulating outside the relationship.[1] Despite this, females do seek out extra pair copulations,[6] and, because of the risk, there is more debate about the evolutionary benefits for females.

  1. ^ a b Petrie, Marion; Kempenaers, Bart (1998-02-01). "Extra-pair paternity in birds: explaining variation between species and populations". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 13 (2): 52–58. Bibcode:1998TEcoE..13...52P. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(97)01232-9. ISSN 0169-5347. PMID 21238200.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Houtman, 1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Gowaty and Bridges 1991a was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bollinger and gavin, 1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Akçay and Roughgarden 2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Forstmeier, Wolfgang; Martin, Katrin; Bolund, Elisabeth; Schielzeth, Holger; Kempenaers, Bart (2011-06-28). "Female extrapair mating behavior can evolve via indirect selection on males". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 108 (26): 10608–10613. doi:10.1073/pnas.1103195108. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 3127899. PMID 21670288.