Rape and the prevalence of hybrids in broadly sympatric species: a case study using albatrosses.

ABSTRACT: Conspecific rape often increases male reproductive success. However, the haste and aggression of forced copulations suggests that males may sometimes rape heterospecific females, thus making rape a likely, but undocumented, source of hybrids between broadly sympatric species. We present evidence that heterospecific rape may be the source of hybrids between Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes, and P. immutabilis, respectively). Extensive field studies have shown that paired (but not unpaired) males of both of these albatross species use rape as a supplemental reproductive strategy. Between species differences in size, timing of laying, and aggressiveness suggest that Black-footed Albatrosses should be more successful than Laysan Albatrosses in heteropspecific rape atte

SUBMITTER: Rohwer S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4060039 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature