The reuse of avian samples: opportunities, pitfalls, and a solution

Tissue samples are frequently collected to study various aspects of avian biology, but in many cases these samples are not used in their entirety and are stored by the collector. The already collected samples provide a largely overlooked opportunity because they can be used by different researchers in different biological fields. Broad reuse of samples could result in multispecies or large-scale studies, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the generation of new ideas, thereby increasing the quality and impact of research. Sample reuse could also reduce the number of new samples needed for a study, which is especially pertinent to endangered species where sample collection is necessarily limited. Importantly, reusing samples may be mutually beneficial for both the researchers providing samples and those reusing them. Here, we identify the benefits of sample reuse, describe currently available sources of already collected samples and their limitations, and highlight the wide range of potential applications in a single research field – avian isotopic ecology. To facilitate the reuse of avian samples worldwide and across research fields, we introduce the AviSample Network metadata repository. The main aims of this metadata repository are to collate and provide access to descriptions of available avian tissue samples. We contend that the creation of the AviSample Network metadata repository will provide the opportunity for new collaborations and studies. Moreover, we believe that this will help create research connections between ornithologists across the globe and encourage sample reuse in other fields

Multimodal flight display of a neotropical songbird predicts social pairing but not extrapair mating success

Models of sexual selection predict that socially monogamous females may gain direct or indirect (genetic) benefits by mating with multiple males. We addressed current hypotheses by investigating how, in the socially monogamous blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina), male courtship and territory quality varied with social and extrapair paternity. Males of this tropical granivorous passerine exhibit multimodal displays integrating motor (leap displays) and acoustic components. Across 3 years, we found that extrapair paternity ranged from 8 to 34 % of all nestlings and from 11 to 47 % of all broods. Extrapair and socially paired male territories had similar seed densities. Females preferred to pair socially with males executing higher leaps, but no other male display characteristic associated with paternity loss and extrapair fertilizations. Extrapair and social mates did not differ in genetic similarity to female partners nor in inbreeding levels. Additionally, inbreeding and body condition of extrapair and within-pair nestlings did not differ. Thus, not only did we reject the direct benefits hypothesis for extrapair copulations, but our results also did not support the additive and nonadditive genetic benefits hypotheses. Instead, we found support for benefits through selection of potentially “good fathers,” specifically for females that chose to pair socially with males exhibiting enhanced performance in their displays.</p