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Promiscuity resolves constraints on social mate choice imposed by population viscosity
Geoffrey M While1, Tobias Uller, Genevieve Bordogna
1School of Zoology, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 05, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia; Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
Molecular Ecology
|December 21, 2013
Summary
Population viscosity influences adaptive evolution. In lizards, females avoid inbreeding by mating with less related partners, increasing offspring genetic diversity, but this did not impact fitness.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Population viscosity, or the tendency to associate with kin, can significantly impact adaptive evolution, especially for social traits.
- Increased population viscosity elevates the risk of inbreeding, potentially favoring mechanisms like female promiscuity to mitigate negative consequences.
- Empirical evidence for the role of partner relatedness avoidance in shaping promiscuity is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if fine-scale genetic structure influences mate choice in a pair-bonding lizard species.
- To determine if multiple mating by females circumvents genetic constraints imposed by population viscosity.
- To assess the impact of offspring heterozygosity on fitness and the relationship between female multiple mating and pair relatedness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of fine-scale genetic structure in a pair-bonding lizard population.
- Assessment of social mate choice and its correlation with genetic relatedness.
- Quantification of multiple mating events and offspring heterozygosity.
- Evaluation of the fitness consequences of heterozygosity for offspring and adults.
Main Results:
- Fine-scale genetic structure constrained social mate choice, leading to pairings between genetically similar individuals.
- Multiple mating with less related individuals effectively circumvented these genetic constraints.
- Offspring exhibited increased heterozygosity due to multiple mating, but this did not significantly affect offspring or adult fitness.
- No strong correlation was found between the relatedness of paired individuals and the frequency of female multiple mating.
Conclusions:
- While female promiscuity can counteract inbreeding avoidance in genetically structured populations, its fitness benefits may not always be apparent.
- The study highlights the importance of considering the genetic context of mating strategies in understanding mating system evolution.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the adaptive significance of mating strategies in relation to population structure and genetic diversity.
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