Dominance, body size and internal relatedness influence male reproductive success in eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus).
Reprod Fertil Dev
; 22(3): 539-49, 2010.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20188027
Knowledge of the determinants of reproductive success is essential for understanding the adaptive significance of particular traits. The present study examined whether particular behavioural, morphological, physiological or genetic traits were correlated with male dominance and reproductive success using three semi-free-ranging captive populations (n = 98) of the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus). The morphological traits measured included bodyweight, head, forearm, tail, pes and leg length, forearm and bicep circumference, and testis size. Blood samples were collected to determine serum testosterone concentrations. All individuals were typed for 10 microsatellite loci and paternity determined for each pouch young. To determine the influence of relatedness and genetic diversity on male reproductive success, internal relatedness, standardised heterozygosity and mean d(2) were calculated. Dominant males sired a significantly higher proportion of offspring than smaller, lower-ranked males and had higher testosterone concentrations. Males that sired offspring were significantly heavier and had larger body size. Sires were significantly more heterozygous and genetically dissimilar to breeding females than non-sires. Despite the wealth of knowledge on the social organisation of kangaroos, this is the first study to assign parentage and male reproductive success using molecular evidence.
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Reproducción
/
Conducta Sexual Animal
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Predominio Social
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Tamaño Corporal
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Macropodidae
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Reprod Fertil Dev
Asunto de la revista:
MEDICINA REPRODUTIVA
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Australia