by 2 Cylivers
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From times immemorial swans have symbolized fidelity and everlasting endearing love. Previous research had indicated that the birds were monogamous. But, Australian researchers at Melbourne University have busted this myth.
DNA testing of cygnets revealed that that one in six cygnets is the product of “infidelity.” Apparently, the scientists researching swan behavior found that females manage to slip away from their partners between 11:30 pm and 3:00 am for “extramarital” mating with other males. The male swans involved in such “sexcapades” were also found to be in long-term relationships with other female swans.
Researchers fitted about 60 male black swans at Melbourne's Albert Park Lake with a tiny microchip attached to their tail feathers. The females, in turn, were fitted with a miniature tracking device, known as a decoder. When a male and female copulated, the female's decoder unit detected the microchip implanted in the male's tail feathers, registering the male's identity, as well as the time of copulation.
One possible reason for this behavior could be that the female swans try to ensure the fitness of their offspring by seeking out the superior genes of another male mating partner. The ongoing study is further focusing on the behavior of male swans towards cygnets fathered by other males.
