Who's your daddy? Infidelity and paternity in reed warblers
Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 12:01
in Psychology & Sociology
Researchers recently carried out experiments with reed warblers to see how a situation of potential infidelity affects later paternal investment in the chicks and whether it does in fact lead to extra-pair mating. They found that the males aggressively try to chase off competitors and to keep potentially "double-dealing" females in line. But whether or not they manage, they turn out to be caring fathers once the babies are born.