Mate – guarding in Siberian jay

Abstract: Mate-guarding is performed by many monogamous species, a method used by individuals to physically prevent competitors of the same sex from mating with their partners. This behaviour is most often displayed during the fertile period (i.e. when females can be fertilized). In this study I focused on the genetically and socially monogamous species, the Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus), in which I observed mate-guarding behaviour. The Siberian jays did change their behaviour and increased their aggression in the fertile period, a sign of mate-guarding. This result also suggests that even socially and genetically monogamous species do increase their aggression during the fertile period. This indicates that fidelity still requires an investment in mate-guarding to limit extra-pair mating opportunities. Mate-guarding should then be possible to find in species where there is at least a theoretical opportunity for extra-pair matings.