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Multiple paternity in a salamander with socially monogamous behaviour
Eric B Liebgold1, Paul R Cabe, Robert G Jaeger
1Department of Biology, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-2451, USA. caecilian@virginia.edu
Molecular Ecology
|October 24, 2006
Summary
Social monogamy in red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) does not equate to genetic monogamy. Most egg clutches revealed multiple fathers, even when males attended the eggs.
Area of Science:
- Herpetology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Reproductive Strategies
Background:
- Social monogamy is common in vertebrates, but genetic monogamy is often not observed.
- Amphibian reproductive behaviors regarding social and genetic monogamy remain understudied.
- Red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) exhibit social monogamy in laboratory settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the congruence of social and genetic monogamy in red-backed salamanders.
- To determine paternity in clutches of Plethodon cinereus in a natural population.
- To compare observed parental care with genetic relatedness.
Main Methods:
- Collected 16 egg clutches from Plethodon cinereus in the Appalachian Mountains.
- Obtained tissue samples from attending mothers and tail clippings from embryos.
- Genotyped embryos and adults at five microsatellite loci to analyze paternity.
Main Results:
- 84.6% of clutches exhibited multiple paternity, with 2-3 sires per clutch.
- 25% of clutches had attending males, all of whom sired some offspring.
- No attending males sired the majority of offspring in their attended clutches.
Conclusions:
- Social monogamy in Plethodon cinereus is not associated with genetic monogamy in this population.
- Multiple paternity is prevalent in red-backed salamander clutches.
- Observed male attendance does not guarantee genetic monogamy.
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