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Shimozuru M, Shirane Y, Tsuruga H, Yamanaka M, Nakanishi M, Ishinazaka T, Kasai S, Nose T, Masuda Y, Fujimoto Y, Mano T, Tsubota T. Incidence of Multiple Paternity and Inbreeding in High-Density Brown Bear Populations on the Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan. J Hered 2020; 110:321-331. [PMID: 30629255 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esz002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the breeding ecology of a species is essential for the appropriate conservation and management of wildlife. In brown bears, females occasionally copulate with multiple males in one breeding season, which may lead to multiple paternity in a single litter. In contrast, inbreeding, a potential factor in the reduction of genetic diversity, may occur, particularly in threatened populations. However, few studies have reported the frequency of these phenomena in brown bear populations. Here, we investigated the incidence of multiple paternity and inbreeding in a high-density brown bear population on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido, Japan. A total of 837 individuals collected from 1998 to 2017 were genotyped at 21 microsatellite loci, and parentage analysis was performed. Out of 70-82 litters with ≥2 offspring, 14.6-17.1% of litters were sired by multiple males. This was comparable to the rate reported in a Scandinavian population, although population density and litter size, factors that potentially affect the incidence of multiple paternity, differed between the 2 populations. Out of 222 mother-father mating pairs, 6 litters (2.7%) resulted from matings between fathers and daughters. Additionally, 1 (0.5%) and 4 (1.8%) cases of mating between maternal half-siblings and between paternal half-siblings, respectively, were observed; however, no cases of mating between mothers and sons or between full siblings were observed. Our results suggest that male-biased natal dispersal effectively limits mating between closely related individuals (aside from fathers and daughters) in brown bears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michito Shimozuru
- The Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yuri Shirane
- The Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hifumi Tsuruga
- Hokkaido Research Organization, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | - Takane Nose
- Shiretoko Nature Foundation, Shari, Hokkaido, Japan
| | | | - Yasushi Fujimoto
- The South Shiretoko Brown Bear Information Center, Shibetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Mano
- Hokkaido Research Organization, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Toshio Tsubota
- The Laboratory of Wildlife Biology and Medicine, Department of Environmental Veterinary Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
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Silveira L, Garner SR, Neff BD. Similarity at the major histocompatibility complex class II does not influence mating patterns in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-2822-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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3
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Day J, Gooley RM, Hogg CJ, Belov K, Whittington CM, Grueber CE. MHC-associated mate choice under competitive conditions in captive versus wild Tasmanian devils. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractMate choice contributes to driving evolutionary processes when animals choose breeding partners that confer genetic advantages to offspring, such as increased immunocompetence. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an important group of immunological molecules, as MHC antigens bind and present foreign peptides to T-cells. Recent studies suggest that mates may be selected based on their MHC profile, leading to an association between an individual’s MHC diversity and their breeding success. In conservation, it may be important to consider mate choice in captive breeding programs, as this mechanism may improve reproductive rates. We investigated the reproductive success of Tasmanian devils in a group housing facility to determine whether increased MHC-based heterozygosity led individuals to secure more mating partners and produce more offspring. We also compared the breeding success of captive females to a wild devil population. MHC diversity was quantified using 12 MHC-linked microsatellite markers, including 11 previously characterized markers and one newly identified marker. Our analyses revealed that there was no relationship between MHC-linked heterozygosity and reproductive success either in captivity or the wild. The results of this study suggest that, for Tasmanian devils, MHC-based heterozygosity does not produce greater breeding success and that no specific changes to current captive management strategies are required with respect to preserving MHC diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Day
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rebecca M Gooley
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, Mosman, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
- San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA
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Slade JWG, Watson MJ, MacDougall‐Shackleton EA. "Balancing" balancing selection? Assortative mating at the major histocompatibility complex despite molecular signatures of balancing selection. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5146-5157. [PMID: 31110668 PMCID: PMC6509439 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In vertebrate animals, genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determine the set of pathogens to which an individual's adaptive immune system can respond. MHC genes are extraordinarily polymorphic, often showing elevated nonsynonymous relative to synonymous sequence variation and sharing presumably ancient polymorphisms between lineages. These patterns likely reflect pathogen-mediated balancing selection, for example, rare-allele or heterozygote advantage. Such selection is often reinforced by disassortative mating at MHC. We characterized exon 2 of MHC class II, corresponding to the hypervariable peptide-binding region, in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). We compared nonsynonymous to synonymous sequence variation in order to identify positively selected sites; assessed evidence for trans-species polymorphisms indicating ancient balancing selection; and compared MHC similarity of socially mated pairs to expectations under random mating. Six codons showed elevated ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous variation, consistent with balancing selection, and we characterized several alleles similar to those occurring in at least four other avian families. Despite this evidence for historical balancing selection, mated pairs were significantly more similar at MHC than were randomly generated pairings. Nonrandom mating at MHC thus appears to partially counteract, not reinforce, pathogen-mediated balancing selection in this system. We suggest that in systems where individual fitness does not increase monotonically with MHC diversity, assortative mating may help to avoid excessive offspring heterozygosity that could otherwise arise from long-standing balancing selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel W. G. Slade
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Matthew J. Watson
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
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Hacking JD, Stuart‐Fox D, Godfrey SS, Gardner MG. Specific MHC class I supertype associated with parasite infection and color morph in a wild lizard population. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9920-9933. [PMID: 30386586 PMCID: PMC6202711 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large gene family that plays a central role in the immune system of all jawed vertebrates. Nonavian reptiles are underrepresented within the MHC literature and little is understood regarding the mechanisms maintaining MHC diversity in this vertebrate group. Here, we examined the relative roles of parasite-mediated selection and sexual selection in maintaining MHC class I diversity of a color polymorphic lizard. We discovered evidence for parasite-mediated selection acting via rare-allele advantage or fluctuating selection as ectoparasite load was significantly lower in the presence of a specific MHC supertype (functional clustering of alleles): supertype four. Based on comparisons between ectoparasite prevalence and load, and assessment of the impact of ectoparasite load on host fitness, we suggest that supertype four confers quantitative resistance to ticks or an intracellular tickborne parasite. We found no evidence for MHC-associated mating in terms of pair genetic distance, number of alleles, or specific supertypes. An association was uncovered between supertype four and male throat color morph. However, it is unlikely that male throat coloration acts as a signal of MHC genotype to conspecifics because we found no evidence to suggest that male throat coloration predicts male mating status. Overall, our results suggest that parasite-mediated selection plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in this population via rare-allele advantage and/or fluctuating selection. Further work is required to determine whether sexual selection also plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in agamid lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D. Hacking
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Evolutionary Biology UnitSouth Australian MuseumAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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Yu L, Nie Y, Yan L, Hu Y, Wei F. No evidence for MHC-based mate choice in wild giant pandas. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8642-8651. [PMID: 30271533 PMCID: PMC6157678 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex genes (MHC), a gene cluster that controls the immune response to parasites, are regarded as an important determinant of mate choice. However, MHC-based mate choice studies are especially rare for endangered animals. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a flagship species, has suffered habitat loss and fragmentation. We investigated the genetic variation of three MHC class II loci, including DRB1, DQA1, and DQA2, for 19 mating-pairs and 11 parent-pairs of wild giant pandas based on long-term field behavior observations and genetic samples. We tested four hypotheses of mate choice based on this MHC variation. We found no supporting evidence for the MHC-based heterosis, genetic diversity, genetic compatibility and "good gene" hypotheses. These results suggest that giant pandas may not use MHC-based signals to select mating partners, probably because limited mating opportunities or female-biased natal dispersal restricts selection for MHC-based mate choice, acknowledging the caveat of the small sample size often encountered in endangered animal studies. Our study provides insight into the mate choice mechanisms of wild giant pandas and highlights the need to increase the connectivity and facilitate dispersal among fragmented populations and habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yonggang Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and GeneticsChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Li Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yibo Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and GeneticsChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Fuwen Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation BiologyInstitute of ZoologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and GeneticsChinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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Pearson SK, Godfrey SS, Schwensow N, Bull CM, Gardner MG. Genes and Group Membership Predict Gidgee Skink (Egernia stokesii) Reproductive Pairs. J Hered 2017; 108:369-378. [PMID: 28407082 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their role in mate choice, disease resistance and kin recognition, genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are good candidates for investigating genetic-based mate choice. MHC-based mate choice is context dependent and influenced by many factors including social structure. Social structure diversity makes the Egernia group of lizards suitable for comparative studies of MHC-based mate choice. We investigated mate choice in the gidgee skink (Egernia stokesii), a lizard that exhibits high levels of social group and spatial stability. Group membership was incorporated into tests of the good genes as heterozygosity and compatible genes hypotheses for adaptive (MHC) and neutral (microsatellite) genetic diversity (n = 47 individuals genotyped). Females were more likely to pair with a male with higher MHC diversity and with whom they had a lower degree of microsatellite relatedness. Males were more likely to pair with a female with higher microsatellite heterozygosity and with whom they shared a lower proportion of MHC alleles. Lizards were more likely to mate with an individual from within, rather than outside, their social group, which confirmed earlier findings for this species and indicated mate choice had already largely occurred prior to either social group formation or acceptance of an individual into an existing group. Thus, a combination of genes and group membership, rather than group membership alone, predicted mate choice in this species. This work will contribute to an enhanced understanding of squamate group formation and a deeper understanding of the evolution of sociality within all vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Pearson
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Nina Schwensow
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - C Michael Bull
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Michael G Gardner
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
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Galaverni M, Caniglia R, Milanesi P, Lapalombella S, Fabbri E, Randi E. Choosy Wolves? Heterozygote Advantage But No Evidence of MHC-Based Disassortative Mating. J Hered 2015; 107:134-42. [PMID: 26610365 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esv090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of nonrandom mate choice strategies, including disassortative mating, are used by vertebrate species to avoid inbreeding, maintain heterozygosity and increase fitness. Disassortative mating may be mediated by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), an important gene cluster controlling immune responses to pathogens. We investigated the patterns of mate choice in 26 wild-living breeding pairs of gray wolf (Canis lupus) that were identified through noninvasive genetic methods and genotyped at 3 MHC class II and 12 autosomal microsatellite (STR) loci. We tested for deviations from random mating and evaluated the covariance of genetic variables at functional and STR markers with fitness proxies deduced from pedigree reconstructions. Results did not show evidences of MHC-based disassortative mating. Rather we found a higher peptide similarity between mates at MHC loci as compared with random expectations. Fitness values were positively correlated with heterozygosity of the breeders at both MHC and STR loci, whereas they decreased with relatedness at STRs. These findings may indicate fitness advantages for breeders that, while avoiding highly related mates, are more similar at the MHC and have high levels of heterozygosity overall. Such a pattern of MHC-assortative mating may reflect local coadaptation of the breeders, while a reduction in genetic diversity may be balanced by heterozygote advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Galaverni
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi).
| | - Romolo Caniglia
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi)
| | - Pietro Milanesi
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi)
| | - Silvana Lapalombella
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi)
| | - Elena Fabbri
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi)
| | - Ettore Randi
- From the Laboratorio di genetica, ISPRA, via Cà Fornacetta 9, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia (Bologna), Italy (Galaverni, Caniglia, Milanesi, Fabbri, and Randi); Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy (Lapalombella); and Department 18/Section of Environmental Engineering, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark (Randi)
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