Promiscuity in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) and adder snakes (Vipera berus): Causes and consequences
(2001) In Journal of Heredity 92(2). p.190-197- Abstract
- We review postcopulatory phenomena in the Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and adder (Vipera berus), and in particular, links between female promiscuity, determinants of paternity, and offspring viability. In both species, females mate multiply and exhibit a positive relationship between the number of partners and offspring viability. We conclude that this relationship is most likely the result of variable genetic compatibility between mates arising from postcopulatory phenomena, predominantly assortative fertilization with respect to parental genotypes, However, males who were more successful at mate acquisition were also more successful in situations of sperm competition, suggesting a possible link between male (diploid and haploid)... (More)
- We review postcopulatory phenomena in the Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and adder (Vipera berus), and in particular, links between female promiscuity, determinants of paternity, and offspring viability. In both species, females mate multiply and exhibit a positive relationship between the number of partners and offspring viability. We conclude that this relationship is most likely the result of variable genetic compatibility between mates arising from postcopulatory phenomena, predominantly assortative fertilization with respect to parental genotypes, However, males who were more successful at mate acquisition were also more successful in situations of sperm competition, suggesting a possible link between male (diploid and haploid) genetic quality per se and probability of fertilization, Neither the number of partners nor the number of matings influenced the risk of infertility in sand lizards, suggesting that selection for reduced risk of infertility is not a sufficient explanation for maintaining female promiscuity in this population. Finally, we conclude that the relatively low genetic variability exhibited by our study populations may have facilitated detection of genetic benefits compared to more outbred ones. However, recent work derived from outbred populations in other tars suggest a greater generality of the principles we discuss than previously may have been appreciated. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/145790
- author
- Olsson, M and Madsen, Thomas LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2001
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Heredity
- volume
- 92
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 190 - 197
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:0034986720
- ISSN
- 0022-1503
- DOI
- 10.1093/jhered/92.2.190
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Animal Ecology (Closed 2011) (011012001)
- id
- 7d2dfa09-0a19-48e3-8f1d-3adba11b14b7 (old id 145790)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 11:43:27
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 17:17:39
@article{7d2dfa09-0a19-48e3-8f1d-3adba11b14b7, abstract = {{We review postcopulatory phenomena in the Swedish sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and adder (Vipera berus), and in particular, links between female promiscuity, determinants of paternity, and offspring viability. In both species, females mate multiply and exhibit a positive relationship between the number of partners and offspring viability. We conclude that this relationship is most likely the result of variable genetic compatibility between mates arising from postcopulatory phenomena, predominantly assortative fertilization with respect to parental genotypes, However, males who were more successful at mate acquisition were also more successful in situations of sperm competition, suggesting a possible link between male (diploid and haploid) genetic quality per se and probability of fertilization, Neither the number of partners nor the number of matings influenced the risk of infertility in sand lizards, suggesting that selection for reduced risk of infertility is not a sufficient explanation for maintaining female promiscuity in this population. Finally, we conclude that the relatively low genetic variability exhibited by our study populations may have facilitated detection of genetic benefits compared to more outbred ones. However, recent work derived from outbred populations in other tars suggest a greater generality of the principles we discuss than previously may have been appreciated.}}, author = {{Olsson, M and Madsen, Thomas}}, issn = {{0022-1503}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{2}}, pages = {{190--197}}, publisher = {{Oxford University Press}}, series = {{Journal of Heredity}}, title = {{Promiscuity in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) and adder snakes (Vipera berus): Causes and consequences}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jhered/92.2.190}}, doi = {{10.1093/jhered/92.2.190}}, volume = {{92}}, year = {{2001}}, }