| My study addressed boldness in response to predatory threat in Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis), tested through field experiments, and associations with reproductive success including extra-pair parentage. In spring 2012 and 2013, I presented breeding pairs with three stimulus models during the 2-week nestling stage. Males responded vocally 15.7 % more than females. There were consistent differences between individual's responses for males and females. Several vocal response variables were positively correlated between females and their social mate. Consistency in response was detected within year, but not between years, giving conflicting results of whether boldness is a component of personality in Carolina Chickadees. I used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to assess parentage. Extra-pair offspring (EPO) occurred in 42% of broods and comprised 13.6 % of nestlings, including 2.1% of nestlings resulting from intraspecific brood parasitism. Boldness did not affect paternity loss; therefore, personality alone does not explain patterns of extra-pair paternity. |
