Are biochemical-genetic variation and mating systems related in large mammals?

Abstract

In some families of large mammals (Ceruidae, Bovidae, Canidae), we examined relationships between the various mating systems adopted and biochemical-genetic variation measured in terms of the mean proportion of polymorphic loci (P), mean heterozygosity (H) and derived coefficients, such as the ratio Pt:P and Fis. Our hypothesis was that genetic variability decreases as the degree of polygyny of the mating system adopted increases. Most of the data were in accordance with this prediction, but also some ambiguous results could be observed. Methodological and practical difficulties connected with our synoptical approach, such as the lack of comparability among most electrophoretic studies and the general scarcity of quantitative behavioural data are critically discussed.

Further studies on the population genetics of the blesbok Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi

“…The opposite relationship was found with respect to the inbreeding coefficient and the extent of differentiation among populations. Contrary to the hypothesis of Apollonio and Hartl (1993) Fis-values in our blesbok populations are slightly negative (Table 1). However, as discussed by Kurt et al (1993), a high annual culling rate may disturb any pronounced substructuring caused by a territorial mating system and lead to a reshuffling of breeding parties in the next season.…”

“…Apollonio and Hartl (1993) have shown that levels of genetic variation in cervids and bovids appear to be negatively correlated with the degree of polygyny. The opposite relationship was found with respect to the inbreeding coefficient and the extent of differentiation among populations.…”

Breeding tactics, social structure and genetic variation in mammals: problems and prospects

“…A second approach entails comparison of the genetics of known social units, is applicable to well-studied species with sufficient natural history information to enable correct identification of social/breeding units, and may involve the analysis of pedigrees from long-term study of populations where members are individually marked (Pope 1992, van Staaden et al 1994. Further approaches include the use of effective population size as a synoptic measure of social structure (Chepko-Sade and Shields 1987), the determination of genetic reponses to inbreeding and outbreeding (Templeton 1987) and surveys of heterozygosity level (Apollonio and Hartl 1993). Below I review recent studies, mostly of primates and rodents, utilizing the first two most common approaches.…”

“…Social structure is not a system of unique, discrete levels, and the difficulties of defining subgroups reaches an extreme in fission-fusion societies which have social organization characterized by flexibility in size and composition of groups within a community (eg lion, porpoises and various monkeys; Chapman et al 1993). Behavioral plasticity occurs at the species, population (Apollonio and Hartl 1993), social group, and individual levels. For example, the Nilgiri langur Presbytis johnii has a social system highly variable between troops, apparently dependant on idiosyncratic behavioral traits of individuals (Poirer 1969).…”

Genetic variation in an isolated Italian population of fallow deer Dama dama as revealed by RAPD-PCR

“…These include the lek, which is the most extreme polygynous mating system as yet known in ungulates (Randi andApollonio 1988, Apollonio et al 1989). Therefore, only a small proportion of males may actually participate in reproduction, causing a further reduction of N e and an increase of the inbreeding level (Apollonio and Hartl 1993).…”