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Promiscuity resolves constraints imposed by population viscosity

While, Geoffrey ; Uller, Tobias LU ; Bordogna, Georgina and Wapstra, Erik (2014) In Molecular Ecology 23(3). p.721-732
Abstract
Population viscosity can have major consequences for adaptive evolution, in particular for phenotypes involved in social interactions. For example, population viscosity increases the probability of mating with close kin, resulting in selection for mechanisms that circumvent the potential negative consequences of inbreeding. Female promiscuity is often suggested to be one such mechanism. However, whether avoidance of genetically similar partners is a major selective force shaping patterns of promiscuity remains poorly supported by empirical data. Here, we show (i) that fine-scale genetic structure constrains social mate choice in a pair-bonding lizard, resulting in individuals pairing with genetically similar individuals, (ii) that these... (More)
Population viscosity can have major consequences for adaptive evolution, in particular for phenotypes involved in social interactions. For example, population viscosity increases the probability of mating with close kin, resulting in selection for mechanisms that circumvent the potential negative consequences of inbreeding. Female promiscuity is often suggested to be one such mechanism. However, whether avoidance of genetically similar partners is a major selective force shaping patterns of promiscuity remains poorly supported by empirical data. Here, we show (i) that fine-scale genetic structure constrains social mate choice in a pair-bonding lizard, resulting in individuals pairing with genetically similar individuals, (ii) that these constraints are circumvented by multiple mating with less related individuals and (iii) that this results in increased heterozygosity of offspring. Despite this, we did not detect any significant effects of heterozygosity on offspring or adult fitness or a strong relationship between pair relatedness and female multiple mating. We discuss these results within the context of incorporating the genetic context dependence of mating strategies into a holistic understanding of mating system evolution. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Molecular Ecology
volume
23
issue
3
pages
721 - 732
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000329980000018
  • scopus:84892989214
  • pmid:24354676
ISSN
0962-1083
DOI
10.1111/mec.12618
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
312c215f-0680-43e2-a93c-93191dd23274 (old id 4738929)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:02:55
date last changed
2022-04-12 01:20:38
@article{312c215f-0680-43e2-a93c-93191dd23274,
  abstract     = {{Population viscosity can have major consequences for adaptive evolution, in particular for phenotypes involved in social interactions. For example, population viscosity increases the probability of mating with close kin, resulting in selection for mechanisms that circumvent the potential negative consequences of inbreeding. Female promiscuity is often suggested to be one such mechanism. However, whether avoidance of genetically similar partners is a major selective force shaping patterns of promiscuity remains poorly supported by empirical data. Here, we show (i) that fine-scale genetic structure constrains social mate choice in a pair-bonding lizard, resulting in individuals pairing with genetically similar individuals, (ii) that these constraints are circumvented by multiple mating with less related individuals and (iii) that this results in increased heterozygosity of offspring. Despite this, we did not detect any significant effects of heterozygosity on offspring or adult fitness or a strong relationship between pair relatedness and female multiple mating. We discuss these results within the context of incorporating the genetic context dependence of mating strategies into a holistic understanding of mating system evolution.}},
  author       = {{While, Geoffrey and Uller, Tobias and Bordogna, Georgina and Wapstra, Erik}},
  issn         = {{0962-1083}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{721--732}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Molecular Ecology}},
  title        = {{Promiscuity resolves constraints imposed by population viscosity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.12618}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/mec.12618}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}