Multiple paternity in a Pacific marine turtle population: maternal attributes, offspring outcomes and demographic inferences

Howe, M.; FitzSimmons, Nancy N.; Limpus, Colin J.; Clegg, Sonya M.

doi:10.1007/s00227-017-3258-y

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(120 reference statements)

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“…Our comparison of within-clutch morphological variation between multiple and single paternity clut -ches supports the idea that multiple paternity may not be beneficial to female turtles or their offspring. Similarly, Howe et al (2018) found that multiple paternity did not significantly influence loggerhead turtle hatchling size or within-clutch size variation. Previous studies on frogs (Crinia georgiana; Byrne & Roberts 2000) and wild house mice (Mus musculus; Thonhauser et al 2014) also found that multiple paternity did not increase variation in offspring size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

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Morphological variation in leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands

Banerjee

Frey

Kurle

et al. 2020

Endang. Species. Res.

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Understanding species’ mating systems provides important information about their ecology, life history, and behavior. Direct observations of mating behaviors can be challenging, but molecular techniques can reveal information about mating systems and paternal identity in difficult-to-observe species such as sea turtles. Genetic markers can be used to assess the paternity of a clutch and to assign hatchlings to a father. Leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea sometimes mate with multiple individuals, resulting in clutches with mixed paternity; however, the effects of multiple paternity on hatchling quality are unclear. Leatherback hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, exhibit visible variation in individual body size, sometimes within the same clutch. We collected morphometrics and tissue samples from hatchlings across multiple nesting seasons (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and found that hatchlings exhibited small but statistically significant differences in morphometrics between years. We used maternal and hatchling microsatellite genotypes to reconstruct paternal genotypes, assigning fathers to each hatchling. We found multiple paternity in 5 of 17 clutches analyzed and compared differences in morphometrics between full-siblings with differences between half-siblings. We found no significant differences between morphometrics of hatchlings from the same mother but different fathers. We compared within-clutch variances in morphometrics for clutches with and without multiple paternity and found no significant difference in morphological variation between them. Therefore, we could not attribute differences in hatchling size within a clutch to paternal contribution. Understanding other factors affecting hatchling morphology, and other possible fitness metrics, may reveal insights into the benefits, or lack thereof, of polyandry in sea turtles.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…This technique is useful as it allows researchers to assess the quantity and quality of males' offspring without direct observation of mating. To date, there have been few published studies to apply multiple paternity analysis in this way (Lee & Hays 2004, Stewart & Dutton 2014, Alfaro-Núñez et al 2015, Howe et al 2018.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological variation in leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands

Banerjee

Frey

Kurle

et al. 2020

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…Satellite tracking and direct observations showed that breeding usually occurs before the beginning of the nesting season and all the clutches laid within a season are usually sired by the same fathers (Hays et al, 2022). However, sperm storage across multiple seasons has not been formally demonstrated in marine turtles, as opposed to terrestrial and freshwater turtles (Owens, 1980;Whitaker, 2006), but several studies have suggested that it is likely (Howe et al, 2017;Theissinger et al, 2009;Wright et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the reproductive behaviour of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) using parentage analysis

Dolfo,

Gaspar,

Tatarata

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The reproductive systems of natural populations can greatly impact their genetic diversity by preventing or encouraging inbreeding. It is therefore crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the mating system to evaluate a population’s ability to maintain genetic diversity over time. In this study, we examine the mating system of an endangered population of green sea turtles in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia. We determine if different mating behaviours serve as strategies to avoid inbreeding. We genotyped 107 nesting females and 1483 hatchlings from 549 nests and used 23 microsatellite markers to reconstruct the genotypes of the fathers. We assessed the level of inbreeding and relatedness of the parent pairs and explored the correlation between relatedness and fitness parameters in the offspring. We determined the mating behaviours of both males and females and investigated if specific behaviours were linked to different levels of relatedness. Our results showed that 27 fathers and 31 mothers were responsible for the genotypes of 445 hatchlings from 105 nests. Global Fis was significant, and levels of relatedness were higher than expected through random mating, indicating inbreeding and non-random partner selection. However, we did not find any mating behaviours that were associated with lower relatedness levels than the general population, suggesting that they are not part of an inbreeding avoidance strategy. Ultimately, this study illuminates the reproductive system of green turtles and shows that this population is susceptible to inbreeding. Additionally, our research demonstrates the effectiveness of parentage analysis in understanding the reproductive behaviour of elusive species.

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“…Most studies of marine turtles have found little evidence for this (e.g. Zbinden et al 2007, Wright et al 2013, Alfaro-Núñez et al 2015; but see Phillips et al 2017, Howe et al 2018, although it is possible for such effects to exist but be almost undetectable, if they can recover fitness that might otherwise be lost (e.g. Price et al 2010, Michalczyk et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Within-season shifts in multiple paternity patterns in mass-nesting olive ridley sea turtles

González-Cortés

Labastida‐Estrada

Karam-Martínez

et al. 2021

Endang. Species. Res.

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Multiple paternity is common to all sea turtle species, but its causes and consequences are hard to ascertain and the behaviors and success of males difficult to observe. This study aims to describe patterns of multiple paternity for olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea at Playa de Escobilla, an ‘arribada’ (mass-nesting) site on the Mexican Pacific coast with over a million clutches laid each reproductive season. A total of 15 females and their hatchlings were sampled during 3 arribada events which occurred over the 2016-2017 nesting season. Females and hatchlings (N = 329) were genotyped at 5 microsatellite loci, from which we inferred the alleles of 46 contributing males. Multiple paternity was detected in 60% of the analyzed clutches, which were sired by a range of 2 to 7 males. Multiple paternity rates differed significantly across arribada events, suggesting more males achieved fertilizations earlier in the breeding season. Paternal contribution in 6 of the clutches with multiple paternity was skewed towards a single male; the remaining clutches had a homogeneous male contribution. However, our results are based on relatively small within-arribada sample sizes. The frequency of multiple paternity among turtle clutches laid on this arribada beach could be related to the density of breeding individuals in the reproductive patch off Playa de Escobilla, rather than to the nesting population size or female size.

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Multiple paternity in a Pacific marine turtle population: maternal attributes, offspring outcomes and demographic inferences

Abstract: Multiple paternity in loggerhead turtles Manuscript Click here to download Manuscript MABI-D-17-00403 revised_clean.docx Click here to view linked References

Cited by 9 publications

References 95 publications

Morphological variation in leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands

Morphological variation in leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) hatchlings at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge, US Virgin Islands

Investigating the reproductive behaviour of the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) using parentage analysis

Within-season shifts in multiple paternity patterns in mass-nesting olive ridley sea turtles

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