. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club. Club News 82 Bull. 2002 122(2) and to assess the level of in-breeding amongst the extant population. Blood samples collected from living specimens will be compared with tissue samples taken from Madagascar Fish Eagle museum specimens to facilitate a population history over a 144-year period, and thus the detection of genetic bottlenecks, which will either confirm or refute the supposition that the population has suffered a recent drastic decline. Blood samples from contemporary individuals in both sub-populations will be used to examine the
. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club. Club News 82 Bull. 2002 122(2) and to assess the level of in-breeding amongst the extant population. Blood samples collected from living specimens will be compared with tissue samples taken from Madagascar Fish Eagle museum specimens to facilitate a population history over a 144-year period, and thus the detection of genetic bottlenecks, which will either confirm or refute the supposition that the population has suffered a recent drastic decline. Blood samples from contemporary individuals in both sub-populations will be used to examine the extent of gene flow both within and between sub-populations, to determine whether they are both geographically and genetically distinct. DNA fingerprinting will also be used to test for paternity amongst polyandrous trios and their offspring which, coupled with detailed behavioural observations at the nests, should provide a greater insight into the social hierarchy of this unusual breeding strategy. Preliminary results indicate a more complex social hierarchy and range of breeding strategies than was first thought. The following breeding strategies have been observed within one sub- population over a three-year period: monogamy, polyandry, polygyny, polygynandry, and potentially homosexuality. This diversity is unique amongst raptor species and very rare amongst other avian taxa, perhaps with the exception of the Dunnock Prunella modularis. Co-operative breeding in other species has often been explained as a response to a specific environmental condition. For example, polyandry (at least 2 males with 1 female at one nest) may occur as a result of food shortage, which may favour the co-operation of males to permit a higher probability of successful reproduction. However, polygyny (at least 2 females mating with the same male) may occur as a result of high food availability, whereby the single male is able to provide food for two females and thus double his probability of succe
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