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Local genetic structure in a white-bearded manakin population
1Department of Population Biology/EBC, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75329, Uppsala, Sweden. jacob.hoglund@ebc.uu.se
Molecular Ecology
|August 16, 2003
Summary
Related male white-bearded manakins (Manacus manacus) often display at the same leks, suggesting limited dispersal and potential kin recognition in this species. This behavior may influence territory establishment among related males.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Population Genetics
- Avian Biology
Background:
- Lekking behavior in birds is a mating system where males aggregate to display.
- Understanding local genetic structure is crucial for inferring mating patterns and dispersal.
- White-bearded manakins (Manacus manacus) exhibit lekking behavior, making them ideal for studying social structure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the local genetic structure of white-bearded manakins on Trinidad.
- To determine the extent of relatedness among males at leks.
- To explore the implications of genetic structure for dispersal and social behavior.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping 238 white-bearded manakins at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci.
- Analyzing genetic relatedness (r) and kinship coefficients (aij) within and between nine leks.
- Estimating inbreeding coefficients (FIS and FIT) for the study population.
Main Results:
- Inferred significant half-sib (average 14.8 per lek) and full-sib (average 2 per lek) relationships among males at leks.
- Identified a single genetic population with slight inbreeding (FIS and FIT = 0.02).
- Observed decreased kinship with increasing geographical distance, indicating related individuals display nearby.
Conclusions:
- Limited male dispersal is suggested by the spatial distribution of related individuals.
- The presence of related males at leks may indicate kin recognition mechanisms.
- Males might be more likely to establish territories at leks where relatives are already present.