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MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler

Richardson, David LU ; Komdeur, J ; Burke, T and von Schantz, Torbjörn LU (2005) In Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences 272(1564). p.759-767
Abstract
The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance in vertebrates, may be the link between mate choice and the genetic inheritance of vigour in offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent mate choice can occur in mammal and fish species, but little work has focused on the role of the MHC in birds. We tested for MHC-dependent mating patterns in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). There was no influence of MHC class I exon 3 variation on the choice of social mate. However, females were more likely to obtain extra-pair paternity (EPP) when their social mate had low MHC diversity,... (More)
The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance in vertebrates, may be the link between mate choice and the genetic inheritance of vigour in offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent mate choice can occur in mammal and fish species, but little work has focused on the role of the MHC in birds. We tested for MHC-dependent mating patterns in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). There was no influence of MHC class I exon 3 variation on the choice of social mate. However, females were more likely to obtain extra-pair paternity (EPP) when their social mate had low MHC diversity, and the MHC diversity of the extra-pair male was significantly higher than that of the cuckolded male. There was no evidence that females were mating disassortatively, or that they preferred males with an intermediate number of MHC bands. Overall, the results are consistent with the I good genes' rather than the 'genetic compatibility' hypothesis. As female choice will result in offspring of higher MHC diversity, MHC-dependent EPP may provide indirect benefits in the Seychelles warbler if survival is positively linked to MHC diversity. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences
volume
272
issue
1564
pages
759 - 767
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • wos:000229110500011
  • pmid:15870038
  • scopus:20344386493
  • pmid:15870038
ISSN
1471-2954
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2004.3028
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
4ca6a2cb-2289-4fd6-b10f-2fd95dc8118d (old id 145403)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:04:21
date last changed
2022-04-29 00:12:31
@article{4ca6a2cb-2289-4fd6-b10f-2fd95dc8118d,
  abstract     = {{The existence and nature of indirect genetic benefits to mate choice remain contentious. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, which play a vital role in determining pathogen resistance in vertebrates, may be the link between mate choice and the genetic inheritance of vigour in offspring. Studies have shown that MHC-dependent mate choice can occur in mammal and fish species, but little work has focused on the role of the MHC in birds. We tested for MHC-dependent mating patterns in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). There was no influence of MHC class I exon 3 variation on the choice of social mate. However, females were more likely to obtain extra-pair paternity (EPP) when their social mate had low MHC diversity, and the MHC diversity of the extra-pair male was significantly higher than that of the cuckolded male. There was no evidence that females were mating disassortatively, or that they preferred males with an intermediate number of MHC bands. Overall, the results are consistent with the I good genes' rather than the 'genetic compatibility' hypothesis. As female choice will result in offspring of higher MHC diversity, MHC-dependent EPP may provide indirect benefits in the Seychelles warbler if survival is positively linked to MHC diversity.}},
  author       = {{Richardson, David and Komdeur, J and Burke, T and von Schantz, Torbjörn}},
  issn         = {{1471-2954}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1564}},
  pages        = {{759--767}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{MHC-based patterns of social and extra-pair mate choice in the Seychelles warbler}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2769274/625048.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rspb.2004.3028}},
  volume       = {{272}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}