Promiscuity and the Evolution of Cooperative Neighbourhoods, 2003

A striking but unexplained pattern in biology is the widespread promiscuity in socially monogamous species. Although females commonly solicit extra-pair copulations, the adaptive reason has been elusive. This project focused on ecological features common in natural population that bridge the gap between the general theory and empirically testable predictions. A particular focus was on how individual variation in condition, information and mating prospects shape male and female mating behaviours. The data material consists of data from a blue tit study near Montpellier, France (2000-2003). Analyzed for paternity of chicks in broods and neighborhood characteristics.