Genes and Group Membership Predict Gidgee Skink (Egernia stokesii) Reproductive Pairs

Sarah K Pearson1, Stephanie S Godfrey1, Nina Schwensow1

  • 1From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner).

Summary

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes influence mate choice in gidgee skinks. Lizards preferred partners with higher genetic diversity and lower relatedness, with group membership also playing a role.

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