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Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

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Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates. / Leclaire, Sarah; Nielsen, Johanna F.; Sharp, Stuart P. et al.
In: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Vol. 26, No. 7, 07.2013, p. 1499-1507.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Leclaire, S, Nielsen, JF, Sharp, SP & Clutton-Brock, TH 2013, 'Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates', Journal of Evolutionary Biology, vol. 26, no. 7, pp. 1499-1507. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12151

APA

Leclaire, S., Nielsen, J. F., Sharp, S. P., & Clutton-Brock, T. H. (2013). Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 26(7), 1499-1507. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12151

Vancouver

Leclaire S, Nielsen JF, Sharp SP, Clutton-Brock TH. Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2013 Jul;26(7):1499-1507. Epub 2013 May 16. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12151

Author

Leclaire, Sarah ; Nielsen, Johanna F. ; Sharp, Stuart P. et al. / Mating strategies in dominant meerkats : evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates. In: Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2013 ; Vol. 26, No. 7. pp. 1499-1507.

Bibtex

@article{2e7f6229af82490fbd11e3512115925c,
title = "Mating strategies in dominant meerkats: evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates",
abstract = "Rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP) have frequently been associated with genetic relatedness between social mates in socially monogamous birds. However, evidence is limited in mammals. Here, we investigate whether dominant females use divorce or extra-pair paternity as a strategy to avoid the negative effects of inbreeding when paired with a related male in meerkats Suricata suricatta, a species where inbreeding depression is evident for several traits. We show that dominant breeding pairs seldom divorce, but that rates of EPP are associated with genetic similarity between mates. Although extra-pair males are no more distantly related to the female than social males, they are more heterozygous. Nevertheless, extra-pair pups are not more heterozygous than within-pair pups. Whether females benefit from EPP in terms of increased fitness of the offspring, such as enhanced survival or growth, requires further investigations.",
keywords = "cooperative breeding, divorce, extra-pair paternity, genetic compatibility, inbreeding",
author = "Sarah Leclaire and Nielsen, {Johanna F.} and Sharp, {Stuart P.} and Clutton-Brock, {Tim H.}",
year = "2013",
month = jul,
doi = "10.1111/jeb.12151",
language = "English",
volume = "26",
pages = "1499--1507",
journal = "Journal of Evolutionary Biology",
issn = "1010-061X",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "7",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mating strategies in dominant meerkats

T2 - evidence for extra-pair paternity in relation to genetic relatedness between pair mates

AU - Leclaire, Sarah

AU - Nielsen, Johanna F.

AU - Sharp, Stuart P.

AU - Clutton-Brock, Tim H.

PY - 2013/7

Y1 - 2013/7

N2 - Rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP) have frequently been associated with genetic relatedness between social mates in socially monogamous birds. However, evidence is limited in mammals. Here, we investigate whether dominant females use divorce or extra-pair paternity as a strategy to avoid the negative effects of inbreeding when paired with a related male in meerkats Suricata suricatta, a species where inbreeding depression is evident for several traits. We show that dominant breeding pairs seldom divorce, but that rates of EPP are associated with genetic similarity between mates. Although extra-pair males are no more distantly related to the female than social males, they are more heterozygous. Nevertheless, extra-pair pups are not more heterozygous than within-pair pups. Whether females benefit from EPP in terms of increased fitness of the offspring, such as enhanced survival or growth, requires further investigations.

AB - Rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP) have frequently been associated with genetic relatedness between social mates in socially monogamous birds. However, evidence is limited in mammals. Here, we investigate whether dominant females use divorce or extra-pair paternity as a strategy to avoid the negative effects of inbreeding when paired with a related male in meerkats Suricata suricatta, a species where inbreeding depression is evident for several traits. We show that dominant breeding pairs seldom divorce, but that rates of EPP are associated with genetic similarity between mates. Although extra-pair males are no more distantly related to the female than social males, they are more heterozygous. Nevertheless, extra-pair pups are not more heterozygous than within-pair pups. Whether females benefit from EPP in terms of increased fitness of the offspring, such as enhanced survival or growth, requires further investigations.

KW - cooperative breeding

KW - divorce

KW - extra-pair paternity

KW - genetic compatibility

KW - inbreeding

U2 - 10.1111/jeb.12151

DO - 10.1111/jeb.12151

M3 - Journal article

VL - 26

SP - 1499

EP - 1507

JO - Journal of Evolutionary Biology

JF - Journal of Evolutionary Biology

SN - 1010-061X

IS - 7

ER -