1
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Pollo P, Lagisz M, Yang Y, Culina A, Nakagawa S. Synthesis of sexual selection: a systematic map of meta-analyses with bibliometric analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 38982618 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Sexual selection has been a popular subject within evolutionary biology because of its central role in explaining odd and counterintuitive traits observed in nature. Consequently, the literature associated with this field of study became vast. Meta-analytical studies attempting to draw inferences from this literature have now accumulated, varying in scope and quality, thus calling for a synthesis of these syntheses. We conducted a systematic literature search to create a systematic map with a report appraisal of meta-analyses on topics associated with sexual selection, aiming to identify the conceptual and methodological gaps in this secondary literature. We also conducted bibliometric analyses to explore whether these gaps are associated with the gender and origin of the authors of these meta-analyses. We included 152 meta-analytical studies in our systematic map. We found that most meta-analyses focused on males and on certain animal groups (e.g. birds), indicating severe sex and taxonomic biases. The topics in these studies varied greatly, from proximate (e.g. relationship of ornaments with other traits) to ultimate questions (e.g. formal estimates of sexual selection strength), although the former were more common. We also observed several common methodological issues in these studies, such as lack of detailed information regarding searches, screening, and analyses, which ultimately impairs the reliability of many of these meta-analyses. In addition, most of the meta-analyses' authors were men affiliated to institutions from developed countries, pointing to both gender and geographical authorship biases. Most importantly, we found that certain authorship aspects were associated with conceptual and methodological issues in meta-analytical studies. Many of our findings might simply reflect patterns in the current state of the primary literature and academia, suggesting that our study can serve as an indicator of issues within the field of sexual selection at large. Based on our findings, we provide both conceptual and analytical recommendations to improve future studies in the field of sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Pollo
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 9 High St., Kensington, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Malgorzata Lagisz
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 9 High St., Kensington, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Yefeng Yang
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 9 High St., Kensington, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Antica Culina
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Gate 9 High St., Kensington, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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2
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Makuya L, Schradin C. The secret social life of solitary mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2402871121. [PMID: 38498729 PMCID: PMC10990138 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402871121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lindelani Makuya
- School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, Johannesburg2050, South Africa
| | - Carsten Schradin
- School of Animal, Plant & Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, Johannesburg2050, South Africa
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien UMR 7178, StrasbourgF-67000, France
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3
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Dobson FS, Correia HE, Abebe A. How much multiple paternity should we expect? A study of birds and contrast with mammals. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11054. [PMID: 38435004 PMCID: PMC10905237 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Parentage analyses via molecular markers have revealed multiple paternity within the broods of polytocous species, reshaping our understanding of animal behavior, ecology, and evolution. In a meta-analysis of multiple paternity in bird and mammal species, we conducted a literature search and found 138 bird and 64 mammal populations with microsatellite DNA paternity results. Bird populations averaged 19.5% multiple paternity and mammals more than twice that level (46.1%). We used a Bayesian approach to construct a null model for how multiple paternity should behave at random among species, under the assumption that all mated males have equal likelihood of siring success, given mean brood size and mean number of sires. We compared the differences between the null model and the actual probabilities of multiple paternity. While a few bird populations fell close to the null model, most did not, averaging 34.0-percentage points below null model predictions; mammals had an average probability of multiple paternity 13.6-percentage points below the null model. Differences between bird and mammal species were also subjected to comparative phylogenetic analyses that generally confirmed our analyses that did not adjust for estimated historical relationships. Birds exhibited extremely low probabilities of multiple paternity, not only compared to mammals but also relative to other major animal taxa. The generally low probability of multiple paternity in birds might be produced by a variety of factors, including behaviors that reflect sexual selection (extreme mate guarding or unifocal female choice) and sperm competition (e.g., precedence effects favoring fertilization by early or late matings).
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Stephen Dobson
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7178, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueUniversité de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Hannah E. Correia
- Department of Environmental Health and EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Ash Abebe
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
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4
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Fishman R, Koren L, Ben-Shlomo R, Shanas U, Vortman Y. Paternity share predicts sons' fetal testosterone. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16737. [PMID: 37794058 PMCID: PMC10551022 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42718-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple paternity is common in many species. While its benefits for males are obvious, for females they are less clear. Female indirect benefits may include acquiring 'good genes' for offspring or increasing litter genetic diversity. The nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a successful invasive species. In its native habitat, it is polygynous, with larger and more aggressive males monopolizing paternity. Here, using culled nutria we genetically examined multiple paternity in-utero and found a high incidence of multiple paternity and maintenance of the number of fathers throughout gestation. Moreover, male fetuses sired by the prominent male have higher testosterone levels. Despite being retained, male fetuses of 'rare' fathers, siring commonly only one of the fetuses in the litter, have lower testosterone levels. Considering the reproductive skew of nutria males, if females are selected for sons with higher future reproductive success, low testosterone male fetuses are expected to be selected against. A possible ultimate explanation for maintaining multiple paternity could be that nutria females select for litter genetic diversity e.g., a bet-hedging strategy, even at the possible cost of reducing the reproductive success of some of their sons. Reproductive strategies that maintain genetic diversity may be especially beneficial for invasive species, as they often invade through a genetic bottleneck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Fishman
- Department of Brain Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100, Rehovot, Israel.
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| | - Lee Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Rachel Ben-Shlomo
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa-Oranim, 3600600, Tivon, Israel
| | - Uri Shanas
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa-Oranim, 3600600, Tivon, Israel
| | - Yoni Vortman
- Hula Research Center, Department of Animal Sciences, Tel-Hai College, 1220800, Upper Galilee, Israel
- MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute, 11016, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
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5
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Dapper AL, Diegel AE, Wade MJ. Relative rates of evolution of male-beneficial nuclear compensatory mutations and male-harming Mother's Curse mitochondrial alleles. Evolution 2023; 77:1945-1955. [PMID: 37208299 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Mother's Curse alleles represent a significant source of potential male fitness defects. The maternal inheritance of mutations with the pattern of sex-specific fitness effects, s♀>0>s♂, allows Mother's Curse alleles to spread through a population even though they reduce male fitness. Although the mitochondrial genomes of animals contain only a handful of protein-coding genes, mutations in many of these genes have been shown to have a direct effect on male fertility. The evolutionary process of nuclear compensation is hypothesized to counteract the male-limited mitochondrial defects that spread via Mother's Curse. Here we use population genetic models to investigate the evolution of compensatory autosomal nuclear mutations that act to restore the loss of fitness caused by mitochondrial mutation pressures. We derive the rate of male fitness deterioration by Mother's Curse and the rate of restoration by nuclear compensatory evolution. We find that the rate of nuclear gene compensation is many times slower than that of its deterioration by cytoplasmic mutation pressure, resulting in a significant lag in the recovery of male fitness. Thus, the numbers of nuclear genes capable of restoring male mitochondrial fitness defects must be large in order to sustain male fitness in the face of mutation pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Dapper
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United States
| | - Amanda E Diegel
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, United States
| | - Michael J Wade
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
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6
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Batsuren E, Zhang X, Song M, Wan X, Li G, Liu J, Huang S, Zhang Z. Density‐dependent changes of mating system and family structure in Brandt's voles (
Lasiopodomys brandtii
). Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Erdenetuya Batsuren
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Institute of Plant Protection Ulaanbaatar Mongolia
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Mingjing Song
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Comparative Medicine Centre, Ministry of Health Peking Union Medical College Beijing China
| | - Xinru Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Guoliang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Shuli Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- College of Life Science University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Zhibin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
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7
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Makuya L, Olivier C, Schradin C. Field studies need to report essential information on social organisation – independent of the study focus. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lindelani Makuya
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Charlotte‐Anaïs Olivier
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
- IPHCUNISTRACNRS Strasbourg France
| | - Carsten Schradin
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa
- IPHCUNISTRACNRS Strasbourg France
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8
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Batova ON, Vasilieva NA, Titov SV, Savinetskaya LE, Tchabovsky AV. Female polyandry dilutes inbreeding in a solitary fast-living hibernator. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03086-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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9
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Miller CM, Snyder-Mackler N, Nguyen N, Fashing PJ, Tung J, Wroblewski EE, Gustison ML, Wilson ML. Extragroup paternity in gelada monkeys, Theropithecus gelada, at Guassa, Ethiopia and a comparison with other primates. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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10
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Alarcón-Ríos L, Nicieza AG, Lourenço A, Velo-Antón G. The evolution of pueriparity maintains multiple paternity in a polymorphic viviparous salamander. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14744. [PMID: 32901062 PMCID: PMC7479106 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71609-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The reduction in fecundity associated with the evolution of viviparity may have far-reaching implications for the ecology, demography, and evolution of populations. The evolution of a polygamous behaviour (e.g. polyandry) may counteract some of the effects underlying a lower fecundity, such as the reduction in genetic diversity. Comparing patterns of multiple paternity between reproductive modes allows us to understand how viviparity accounts for the trade-off between offspring quality and quantity. We analysed genetic patterns of paternity and offspring genetic diversity across 42 families from two modes of viviparity in a reproductive polymorphic species, Salamandra salamandra. This species shows an ancestral (larviparity: large clutches of free aquatic larvae), and a derived reproductive mode (pueriparity: smaller clutches of larger terrestrial juveniles). Our results confirm the existence of multiple paternity in pueriparous salamanders. Furthermore, we show the evolution of pueriparity maintains, and even increases, the occurrence of multiple paternity and the number of sires compared to larviparity, though we did not find a clear effect on genetic diversity. High incidence of multiple paternity in pueriparous populations might arise as a mechanism to avoid fertilization failures and to ensure reproductive success, and thus has important implications in highly isolated populations with small broods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Alarcón-Ríos
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Valentín Andrés Álvarez S/N, 33071, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Alfredo G Nicieza
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Área de Ecología, Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Valentín Andrés Álvarez S/N, 33071, Oviedo, Spain.,Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Biodiversidad (UMIB), CSIC-Universidad de Oviedo-Principado de Asturias, Mieres, Spain
| | - André Lourenço
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão , Universidade do Porto, R. Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.,Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Ciências da, Universidade do Porto, Rua Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Guillermo Velo-Antón
- CIBIO/InBIO, Centro de Investigacão em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão , Universidade do Porto, R. Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy G Solomon
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United States
| | - Alexander G Ophir
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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12
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Wakabayashi H, Saitoh T. Estimation of multiple male mating frequency using paternity skew: An example from a grey-sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) population. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 20:444-456. [PMID: 31736261 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Multiple male mating (MMM) causes sperm competition, which may play an important role in the evolution of reproductive traits. The frequency of multiple paternity (MP), where multiple males sire offspring within a single litter, has been used as an index of MMM frequency. However, MP frequency is necessarily lower than MMM frequency. The magnitude of the difference between MMM and MP frequency depends on litter size (LS) and fertilization probability skew (FPS), and this difference may be meaningfully large in animals with small LSs. In this study, we propose a method to estimate MMM frequency using an individual-based model with three variables (MP frequency, LS and FPS). We incorporated observed paternity skew data to infer a possible range of FPS that cannot be measured in free-living populations and tested the validity of our method using a data set from a grey-sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) population and from hypothetical populations. MP was found in 50 out of 215 litters (23.3%) in the grey-sided vole population, while MMM frequency was estimated in 67 of 215 litters (31.2%), with a certainty range of 59-88 (27.4%-40.9%). The point estimation of MMM frequency was realized, and the certainty range was limited within the practical range. The use of observed paternity skew was very effective at narrowing the certainty range of the estimate. Our method could contribute to a deeper understanding of the ecology of MMM in free-living populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Wakabayashi
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takashi Saitoh
- Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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13
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Abebe A, Correia HE, Dobson FS. Estimating a Key Parameter of Mammalian Mating Systems: The Chance of Siring Success for a Mated Male. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900016. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ash Abebe
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsAuburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Hannah E. Correia
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - F. Stephen Dobson
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn University Auburn AL 36849 USA
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14
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Ammerman LK, Lee DN, Jones BA, Holt MP, Harrison SJ, Decker SK. High Frequency of Multiple Paternity in Eastern Red Bats, Lasiurus borealis, Based on Microsatellite Analysis. J Hered 2019; 110:675-683. [PMID: 31283818 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Most species of bats give birth to only 1 pup each year, although Eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis) can produce up to 5 pups per litter. Offspring in a single litter have been documented to be at different stages of development, suggesting that multiple paternity occurs. We tested the null hypothesis of genetic monogamy in red bats using 6 autosomal microsatellites and 1 X-linked microsatellite from 31 parent/offspring groups for a total of 128 bats. We sampled both pregnant females and mothers with pups that were obtained from bats submitted to departments of health in Oklahoma and Texas for rabies testing. Multiple paternity was assessed using a maximum-likelihood approach, hypothesis testing, and X-linked locus exclusion. The mean polymorphic information content of our markers was high (0.8819) and combined non-exclusion probability was low (0.00027). Results from the maximum-likelihood approach showed that 22 out of 31 (71%) parent/offspring groups consisted of half siblings, hypothesis testing rejected full sibship in 61% of parent/offspring groups, and X-linked locus exclusion suggested multiple paternity in at least 12 parent/offspring groups, rejecting our hypothesis of genetic monogamy. This frequency of multiple paternity is the highest reported thus far for any bat species. High levels of multiple paternity have the potential to impact interpretations of genetic estimates of effective population size in this species. Further, multiple paternity might be an adaptive strategy to allow for increased genetic variation and large litter size, which would be beneficial to a species threatened by population declines from wind turbines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren K Ammerman
- Department of Biology, ASU Station #10890, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
| | - Dana N Lee
- Department of Agriculture, Biology, and Health Sciences, West Gore Boulevard, Cameron University, Lawton, OK
| | - Brittney A Jones
- Department of Agriculture, Biology, and Health Sciences, West Gore Boulevard, Cameron University, Lawton, OK
| | - Morgan P Holt
- Department of Agriculture, Biology, and Health Sciences, West Gore Boulevard, Cameron University, Lawton, OK
| | - Samuel J Harrison
- Department of Biology, ASU Station #10890, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
| | - Sydney K Decker
- Department of Biology, ASU Station #10890, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX
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15
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Balmer A, Zinner B, Gorrell JC, Coltman DW, Raveh S, Dobson FS. Alternative reproductive tactics and lifetime reproductive success in a polygynandrous mammal. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Adele Balmer
- Integrative Life Sciences Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Bertram Zinner
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | | | - David W Coltman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shirley Raveh
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Glasgow, Scotland
- Université de Neuchâtel, Institut de Biologie, Eco-Ethologie, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - F Stephen Dobson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
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16
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Dobson FS, Abebe A, Correia HE, Kasumo C, Zinner B. Multiple paternity and number of offspring in mammals. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.2042. [PMID: 30429308 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many cooperative social attributes are being linked to characteristics of mating systems, particularly to the rate of multiple paternity that typifies a population. Under the logic that greater offspring production by females should engender greater competition among males to mate with females, it is predicted that multiple paternity should increase with litter sizes. We tested the predicted positive association of multiple paternity and litter size with a meta-analysis of 59 species of mammals. The probability of multiple paternity and mean litter size were positively correlated, but not significantly (Zr = 0.202). Also, the mean number of sires of litters increased with mean litter size, but not significantly (Zr = 0.235). We developed a combinatorial formula for the influence of number of male mates and litter size on the probability of multiple paternity. We used Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations to generate an expectation for the form of the relationship between the probability of multiple paternity and mean litter size. Under the assumption of random samplings of numbers of mates, the expected association of the probability of multiple paternity and mean litter sizes among species was positive, curvilinear and relatively high. However, the empirical probabilities of multiple paternities were much less than expected, suggesting that behavioural factors (such as mating-associated behaviours) or ecological characteristics (such as population density) probably limit the number of male mates for reproductive females. The probability of multiple paternity in a population is an estimate of mating patterns that does not closely reflect the number of sires of individual litters. We suggest use of the estimated probability of mating success for males as an alternative measure of their contribution to the mating system.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Stephen Dobson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Ash Abebe
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Hannah E Correia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Christian Kasumo
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Computational Science, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, PO Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Bertram Zinner
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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