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Hybridization is relatively common in galliforms. In many cases, these hybrids are thought to arise through failures in species recognition, but there are no documented observations of this occurring in the wild. On 1 May 2013. I observed a male Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) engage in a courtship display directed toward a female Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis). This is the first documented case of mistaken species recognition by a Ruffed Grouse and reveals 2 novel aspects of their behavior: the sound of wing flapping might be used to localize conspecifics, and males can be prone to directing courtship toward other species. Received 12 July 2017. Accepted 2 September 2018.Key words: courtship display, hybridization. Ruffed Grouse, species recognition, Spruce Grouse.L'hybridation est relativement courante chez les galliformes. Dans bien de cas, on pense que ces hybrides resultent d'echecs via la reconnaissance des especes, mais il n'y a aucune observation dc cet evenement dans la nature Le 1 mai 2013, j'observai un male de la Gelinotte Huppee (Bonasa umbellus) executait une parade nuptiale pour une femelle du Tetras du Canada (Falcipennis canadensis). Ce cas est le premier qui documente une erreur de la reconnaissance d'espece par une Gelinotte Huppee. Il revele deux aspects nouvels de leur comportement : le son des battements d'ailes pourrait etre utilise pour localiser des congeneres, et les males pourraient etre enclins a faire la parade nuptiale aux autres especes.Mot-cles: Gelinotte huppee, hybridation, parade nuptiale, reconnaissance des especes. Tetras du Canada., Hybridization is relatively common in birds, with thousands of hybrids documented in both captivity and the wild (McCarthy 2006). In the wild, hybridization can arise from a number of different [...]

Knowing how the number and qualities of mates influence male reproductive success (RS) can help interpret matingsystem dynamics that are important for conservation efforts. We combined parentage data (1999-2006) with data from a long-term life-history study (1953-2007) of Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) on the University of Michigan's E.S. George Reserve to document the relative influence of mate number and quality on male RS. Blood samples were taken from >92% of resident adults and tissue samples were taken from 723 hatchlings from 92 nests of 54 females over eight nesting seasons. The incidence of multiple paternity averaged 41.6% (N = 77), was variable among years (minimum-maximum = 15.4%-55.6%), and was positively associated with female age, body size, and clutch size. Repeat paternity was observed in 69.9% of sequential clutches of the same female separated by 1-7 years. Male RS was variable (1-40 offspring) and was positively associated with the number of mates and clutches sired. The youngest male to sire offspring was 22 years old. Adult movements that result in encountering different mates and (or) the ability to use attributes (e.g., size or age) to identify high-quality mates have the potential to substantially increase RS. Key words: Emydoidea blandingii, Blanding's Turtle, life history, mating system, reproductive success, parentage. La connaissance de l'influence du nombre et de la qualite des compagnes sur le succes de reproduction (SR) des males peut aider a interpreter la dynamique des types d'accouplement, un facteur important en ce qui concerne les efforts de conservation. Nous avons combine de donnees sur l'ascendance (1999-2006) avec des donnees d'une etude de longue duree (1953-2007) sur le cycle vital des tortues mouchetees (Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) dans la reserve E.S. George de l'Universite du Michigan, afin de documenter l'influence relative du nombre et de la qualite des compagnes sur le SR des males. Des echantillons de sang ont ete preleves de >92 % des adultes residents et des echantillons de tissus ont ete preleves de 723 bebes de 92 nids de 54 femelles au cours de huit periodes de reproduction. L'incidence moyenne de paternites multiples etait de 41,6 %(N = 77), variait d'une annee a l'autre (minimum-maximum = 15,4 %-55,6 %) et etait positivement associee a l'age et la taille du corps de la femelle et a la taille de la ponte. Des cas de paternite repetee ont ete observes dans 69,9 % des pontes successives de memes femelles separes par des intervalles de 1 a 7 annees. Le SR des males etait variable (de 1 a 40 bebes) et positivement associe au nombre de compagnes et au nombre de pontes produites par le male. Le plus jeune male ayant produit une progeniture avait 22 ans. Des deplacements d'adultes qui se traduisent par la rencontre de compagnes differentes et la capacite d'utiliser des attributs (p. ex. la taille ou l'age) pour cerner des compagnes de bonne qualite pourraient considerablement accroitre le SR. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: Emydoidea blandingii, tortue mouchetee, cycle biologique, type d'accouplement, succes de reproduction, ascendance., Introduction Although males and females both contribute to offspring genotypes, females typically invest more in gametes and offspring than do males (Trivers 1972; Kodric-Brown and Brown 1987). As a result, [...]

Dosidicus gigas (the Humboldt squid) is a widely distributed and ecologically important predator in the eastern Pacific Ocean, but its mating behaviour is poorly understood. Individuals of this species have undergone a drastic change in size at maturity in the last years. We investigated mating activity of Humboldt squid in the Gulf of California in 2013, 2014, and 2015 by quantifying spermatangia deposited in the tissue of the buccal area. In 2015, we encountered the smallest mean mantle length of mature specimens recorded to date in the Gulf of California. In all years, numerous males were encountered that had been mated by other males. Spermatangia in males were deposited on the tissue in similar numbers and in the same location as normally occurs in females (the buccal area), suggesting that male-to-male mating behaviour is similar to male-to-female. This behaviour is referred to as same-sex sexual behaviour and has been described for various taxa, including other cephalopods. Overall similarity in mating frequency between males and females and in body size of mated individuals (in 2015) suggests non-discriminative and brief encounters with body size being a cue for mating. This mating strategy may be beneficial for males, as Humboldt squid live in groups where competition for mates is likely high. The energetic costs of male-to-male mating events may be counterbalanced by the fitness profits of indiscriminate mating behaviour., Author(s): Henk-Jan T. Hoving [sup.1] , Fernando Á. Fernández-Álvarez [sup.2] [sup.3] , Elan J. Portner [sup.3] , William F. Gilly [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0000 9056 9663, grid.15649.3f, GEOMAR, [...]

The mating systems of symbiotic crustaceans vary broadly, ranging from monogamy to polygamy to promiscuity. This disparity in mating systems coupled with wide differences in host ecology provides opportunities to study the effect of environmental conditions on the social behavior of marine organisms. In this study, we tested the prediction that symbiotic crustaceans inhabiting relatively large and abundant host species are promiscuous rather than monogamous. The host traits above constraint host monopolization and favor host-switching behaviors by males individuals and, thus, ultimately drive promiscuity as a mating system in symbiotic crustaceans. As a model system we used Dissodactylus crinitichelis, a small 'pea-crab' that inhabits the relatively large and abundant sand dollar Encope emarginata. We described the population distribution of D. crinitichelis at two intertidal localities in Sergipe, Brazil, and conducted laboratory experiments to infer the mating system of this species. Dissodactylus crinitichelis inhabit sand dollars as adult heterosexual pairs more frequently than expected by chance alone, but these heterosexual pairs did not exhibit size-assortative pairing. Sexual dimorphism was reversed in D. crinitichelis, with males attaining smaller average body sizes than females but exhibiting more elaborated weaponry (male > female claws). These findings disagree with expectations for monogamous symbiotic crustaceans. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that male and female crabs switch among host individuals rather frequently and heterosexual pairs retrieved from the field did not remain together for long times. Our results argue against social monogamy and in favor of promiscuity in D. crinitichelis. Our study supports the notion that host abundance and large body size (relative to that of symbiotic guests) favor promiscuity in symbiotic crustaceans., Author(s): Douglas Fernandes Rodrigues Alves [sup.1] [sup.2] , Gustavo Luis Hirose [sup.1] [sup.2] , Samara de P. Barros-Alves [sup.1] [sup.2] , J. Antonio Baeza [sup.3] [sup.4] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) [...]

Author Affiliations: A male ring-tailed lemur (left) waves his tail at a female. Before such displays, males anoint their tails with a sweet-smelling compound that oozes from their wrist glands. [...], These primates advertise their breeding status with a fruity, floral wrist scent. These primates advertise their breeding status with a fruity, floral wrist scent.

Female Gouldian finches that fail to land their ideal mate seem to have higher levels of stress than their luckier counterparts. The monogamous Australian finches (Erythrura gouldiae, pictured) have either [...]

Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 62, 1633-1641 (2008) Most male birds sing to attract females, but some species have puzzled ornithologists by continuing to sing long after egg laying. Valentin Amrhein and [...]

Curr. Biol. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.067 (2008) When it comes to choosing a mate, male Atlantic molly fish (Poecilia mexicana) often have to make their selection when other males are watching. Martin Plath [...]