The effect of experimental male removals on extrapair paternity in the wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe

To examine the role of the pair male in ensuring paternity in the wheatear, we removed pair males for 24 h during the fertile period (days 0 to +1 in 1992 and days -5 to -1 in 1993, where day 0=first egg date). Control males were removed during incubation. The frequency and duration of intrusions, and the frequency of extrapair copulations (EPCs), increased during removals in the fertile period, but not during incubation. The frequency of extrapair paternity (EPP) was marginally higher (25%) in experimental than control broods and the presence of the pair male seemed particularly important in ensuring paternity in those days immediately preceding laying. Females were selective over which males they copulated with in the absence of their mate and rejected the majority of attempted EPCs. Only extrapair males in better body condition than the removed pair male eventually gained successful matings. Experimental males in poorer body condition were also more likely to have EPP in their brood than experimental males in better body condition. Female copulatory behaviour was the most important factor in determining patterns of paternity, and mate-guarding behaviours by the pair male appeared to limit the females' opportunities to engage in EPCs by reducing the frequency and duration of intrusions, rather than to control female behaviour directly. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.