Genetic similarity between mates and extra-pair parentage in three species of shorebirds - PubMed

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• PMID: 12374978
• DOI: 10.1038/nature01104

Genetic similarity between mates and extra-pair parentage in three species of shorebirds

Donald Blomqvist et al. Nature. 2002.

Abstract

Matings between close relatives often reduce the fitness of offspring, probably because homozygosity leads to the expression of recessive deleterious alleles. Studies of several animals have shown that reproductive success is lower when genetic similarity between parents is high, and that survival and other measures of fitness increase with individual levels of genetic diversity. These studies indicate that natural selection may favour the avoidance of matings with genetically similar individuals. But constraints on social mate choice, such as a lack of alternatives, can lead to pairing with genetically similar mates. In such cases, it has been suggested that females may seek extra-pair copulations with less related males, but the evidence is weak or lacking. Here we report a strong positive relationship between the genetic similarity of social pair members and the occurrence of extra-pair paternity and maternity ('quasi-parasitism') in three species of shorebirds. We propose that extra-pair parentage may represent adaptive behavioural strategies to avoid the negative effects of pairing with a genetically similar mate.

Comment in

• Behavioural ecology. Excuses for avian infidelity.

  van Noordwijk AJ. van Noordwijk AJ. Nature. 2002 Oct 10;419(6907):571. doi: 10.1038/419571a. Nature. 2002. PMID: 12374960 No abstract available.

• Evolutionary biology: Why do birds engage in extra-pair copulation?

  Griffith SC, Montgomerie R. Griffith SC, et al. Nature. 2003 Apr 24;422(6934):833; discussion 833-4. doi: 10.1038/422833a. Nature. 2003. PMID: 12712192 No abstract available.

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