Risk of inbreeding: problem of mate choice and fitness effects?

2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 155-161
Author(s):  
Hannu Ylӧnen ◽  
Marko Haapakoski
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Inbreeding Depression ◽  
Kin Recognition ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Fitness Effects

Mating with close kin may cause inbreeding depression with negative consequences to offspring and local populations. There exist mechanisms like kin-recognition or sex-specific dispersal to avoid mating with kin. In fluctuating population densities, like in many small mammals, both very low and very high densities provide conditions for inbreeding, if kin males are prone to stay in their natal area. Females are choosy and male dominance is thought to be the key feature when selecting mating partners. The aim of this study was to test the possible discrepancy in mate choice and negative fitness effects of inbreeding in two experiments, one in the laboratory and one in field enclosures. We asked (1) how the quality of the potential mating partners affects female choice regardless of relatedness and (2) how inbreeding affects the field populations created either from inbred or outbred individuals. Our results show that primiparous females in post-partum oestrus mated preferably with a dominant male, measured with their urine-marking behaviour, regardless if the selected male was brother or not. Only if the two males offered were of same dominance rank, the female mated with the non-kin male. However, the field experiment verified a negative effect of inbreeding in the bank vole. Thus, there seems to be a mismatch between female mate choice when selecting for dominance among resident males and population viability through long-term inbreeding depression. The study suggests the high importance of sex-biased dispersal as a mechanism to avoid kin individuals to meet in mate choice situations.

Microsatellite analysis reveals that female mice are indiscriminate when choosing infected or dominant males in an arena setting

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 723-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. D. EHMAN ◽  
M. E. SCOTT
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Microsatellite Analysis ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Dominance Status ◽  
Female Mate

Considering that both infection and dominance status can be conveyed through urinary odours and both are thought to affect mate choice, the present study assessed the role of infection and male dominance status on female mate choice in arena enclosures. Three male CD-1 mice were simultaneously introduced into each of 4 spatially complex arenas (3·0×0·6×0·4 m high) for 24 h prior to introduction of 5 females into each arena. During the first mating sequence (i.e. Mating 1), all 3 males were uninfected. Prior to Mating 2, the dominant male in each arena was infected with 200 L3 of Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematoda). Prior to Mating 3, the dominant male was drug-treated to remove the parasite. Dominance was assessed by the absence of rump or tail wounds (Freeland, 1981). Females were removed from the arena when visibly pregnant, and returned for subsequent mating 2 weeks following parturition. Paternity was determined by microsatellite analysis of each pup. Multi-male mating (i.e. mating with 2 or all 3 males) was a common strategy among females as littermates were sired by 2 or all 3 males in 64% of the litters. Contrary to expectation, the dominant male did not sire the majority of offspring in any of the mating sequences, and infection and subsequent drug treatment of the dominant male did not have a significant impact on female mate choice. In addition to methodological differences in paternity determination (i.e. DNA analysis versus behavioural observations and/or phenotypic traits), these findings may be further explained by the spatial complexity of the experimental arenas.

Male Dominance Rank, Female Mate Choice and Male Mating and Reproductive Success in Captive Chimpanzees

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekaterina Klinkova ◽  
J. Keith Hodges ◽  
Kerstin Fuhrmann ◽  
Tom de Jong ◽  
Michael Heistermann
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Female Mate

scholarly journals MALE DOMINANCE, FEMALE MATE CHOICE, AND INTERSEXUAL CONFLICT IN THE ROSE BITTERLING (RHODEUS OCELLATUS)

Evolution ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 366-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Casalini ◽  
Muna Agbali ◽  
Martin Reichard ◽  
Markéta Konečná ◽  
Anna Bryjová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Intersexual Conflict ◽  
The Rose ◽  
Rhodeus Ocellatus

Interplay of male traits, male mating strategies and female mate choice in the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1113-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karpagam Chelliah ◽  
Raman Sukumar
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Mate Guarding ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Asian Elephant ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Male Mating Strategies

Elaborate male traits with no apparent adaptive value may have evolved through female mate discrimination. Tusks are an elaborate male-only trait in the Asian elephant that could potentially influence female mate choice. We examined the effect of male body size, tusk possession and musth status on female mate choice in an Asian elephant population. Large/musth males received positive responses from oestrous females towards courtship significantly more often than did small/non-musth males. Young, tusked non-musth males attempted courtship significantly more often than their tuskless peers, and received more positive responses (though statistically insignificant) than did tuskless males. A positive response did not necessarily translate into mating because of mate-guarding by a dominant male. Female elephants appear to choose mates based primarily on traits such as musth that signal direct fertility benefits through increased sperm received than for traits such as tusks that may signal only indirect fitness benefits.

scholarly journals Mating sequence, dominance and paternity success in captive male tammar wallabies

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily F Hynes ◽  
Carl D Rudd ◽  
Peter D Temple-Smith ◽  
George Sofronidis ◽  
Damien Paris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Tammar Wallaby ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Plasma Testosterone ◽  
Dominant Male ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Equal Chance

The tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) is a small, promiscuous, macropodid marsupial. Females usually produce a single young each year and there is a clear dominance hierarchy between adult males. The dominant male usually mates first and then guards the female to prevent access to her by other males. In this study, agonistic encounters and mating behaviour were observed to determine male dominance hierarchies in six groups of captive tammars consisting of a total of 23 males and 50 females. Mating behaviour was observed immediately post-partum when females were in oestrus and was correlated with plasma testosterone concentrations. Male mating sequences were recorded, and the paternity of offspring was determined by using seven macropodid marsupial microsatellites. Rates of sexual checking and aggression by males housed with females in oestrus in the non-breeding season were lower than in the breeding season. These males also had lower concentrations of testosterone, but were still able to sire young. High testosterone concentrations neither ensured dominance nor appeared to control directly the level of sexual activity. Females usually mated with more than one male. The dominant male most often secured the initial copulation (60%), but the first-mating male did not always secure parentage, with second and third matings resulting in as many young as first matings. Using these data, we were unable to discount first sire, last sire or equal chance models of paternity in this species. Half the young (50%) were sired by the dominant α male, but of the remaining progeny, the β male sired more (35%) than γ and δ males (15%). Dominance therefore is only a moderately effective predictor of paternity in the tammar. Although the dominant males gained most first matings and individually sired half of the offspring, the subdominant males still contributed significantly to the population, at least in captivity.

Sexual selection for male dominance reduces opportunities for female mate choice in the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus)

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1533-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. REICHARD ◽  
J. BRYJA ◽  
M. ONDRACKOVA ◽  
M. DAVIDOVA ◽  
P. KANIEWSKA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Selection For

Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations among Mothers and Newborns and Follow-up Study to Assess Implication on the Growth Velocity and the Urinary Methylmalonic Acid Excretion

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (56) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Hussein ◽  
Sahar Abdel Aziz ◽  
Salwa Tapouzada ◽  
Boehles
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Growth Velocity ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Metabolic Marker ◽  
Biochemical Measurement

Objective:Cobalamin (B12) deficiency has been reported in infants born to mothers with low cobalamin intake. Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants is critical for the prevention of neurobehavioral disorders. We investigated the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level in newborns and in their healthy mothers who consumed an omnivorous diet. Anthropometry was studied longitudinally to assess the growth velocity of the infants. Urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) excretion of 6-month old infants was compared retrospectively as the biomarker correlated with the initial serum vitamin B12 concentrations. Methods: Serum cobalamin and blood hemoglobin were determined in 84 pairs of newborns and their mothers. Urinary MMA excretion was measured in the same subjects during the first 6 months of the post partum period. Results: At birth, median serum cobalamin levels were 152.0 pmol/L in the mothers and 296.6 pmol/L in the newborns. Maternal and neonatal serum cobalamin levels had no effect on growth velocity during the first six months of postnatal life. Serum maternal and neonatal cobalamin levels were inversely associated with urinary MMA excretion. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 status in neonates and infants is crucial, particularly in nutritionally deprived areas. Biochemical measurement of plasma cobalamin or its metabolic marker MMA is highly recommended. Urinary MMA measurement in cobalamin diagnostics provides an advantage in that blood sampling is not required. A vitamin B12 taskforce should be created to alleviate vitamin deficiency and its negative consequences.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document