AUTHOR=Rice Marissa A. , Restrepo Luis F. , Ophir Alexander G. TITLE=When to Cheat: Modeling Dynamics of Paternity and Promiscuity in Socially Monogamous Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster) JOURNAL=Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution VOLUME=6 YEAR=2018 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2018.00141 DOI=10.3389/fevo.2018.00141 ISSN=2296-701X ABSTRACT=
In many socially monogamous species, individuals form long-term pair bonds and males mate guard females. Such behavior is thought to help secure intra-pair fertilizations, the result of intra-pair copulations (IPCs), and ensure paternity. However, socially monogamous males are also often opportunistic and seek additional mating opportunities with other females, leaving their partner unguarded. The success associated with a male's decision to seek more mates over guarding his partner might be impacted by the activity of other males, specifically the proportion of other males leaving their territories to seek extra-pair copulations (EPCs). The amount of EPC-seeking males can impact the likelihood of a given male encountering an unguarded paired female, but also of being cuckolded (losing IPCs). It remains unclear under which conditions it is optimal to stay and guard or seek EPCs. Using field data from socially monogamous prairie voles