© 1992 International Society for Behavioral Ecology
research-article |
Behavioral estimates of male mating success tested by DNA fingerprinting in a polygynous mammal
Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK Large Animal Research Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
ABSTRACT
We used DNA fingerprinting to determine paternity of 80 calves born into the individually monitored population of red deer (Cervus elaphus) on the Isle of Rum, Scotland. Using the paternity information, we investigated the assumptions and predictions of behavioral estimates of male mating success, on which previous studies in this population have relied. Over an 11- day interval in the rut centered on a female's estimated date of conception, the probability that a male fathers a calf is closely related to the number of days he holds the female in his harem, increasing from 0.12 for 1 day to 1.0 for 6 days or more. We compared three methods for estimating the reproductive success of individual males from field observations of harem membership with true success revealed by DNA fingerprinting. All three methods accurately identified the relative success of individual males but were poor predictors of absolute success: the behavioral methods underestimate the true success of successful males and overestimate the success of many males who, in fact, fail to father any calves. In consequence, variance in male mating success is greater than previous behavioral estimates for this population suggested. Both harem membership data and observations of mating and other estrous behavior can be used to identify males most likely to father a specific calf.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. Duchesne, T. Meldgaard, and P. Berrebi Parentage Analysis with Few Contributing Breeders: Validation and Improvement J. Hered., May 1, 2008; 99(3): 323 - 334. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Vanpe, P. Kjellander, M. Galan, J.-F. Cosson, S. Aulagnier, O. Liberg, and A. J. M. Hewison Mating system, sexual dimorphism, and the opportunity for sexual selection in a territorial ungulate Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2008; 19(2): 309 - 316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
H.B. Rasmussen, J.B.A. Okello, G. Wittemyer, H.R. Siegismund, P. Arctander, F. Vollrath, and I. Douglas-Hamilton Age- and tactic-related paternity success in male African elephants Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2008; 19(1): 9 - 15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Pelletier Foraging time of rutting bighorn rams varies with individual behavior, not mating tactic Behav. Ecol., January 1, 2005; 16(1): 280 - 285. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Fabiani, F. Galimberti, S. Sanvito, and A. R. Hoelzel Extreme polygyny among southern elephant seals on Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2004; 15(6): 961 - 969. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. M. Forsyth, K. G. Tustin, J.-M. Gaillard, and A. Loison Fetal sex ratio variation in the highly polygynous Himalayan tahr: evidence for differential male mortality Behav. Ecol., July 1, 2004; 15(4): 572 - 578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. I. Schulte-Hostedde, J. S. Millar, and H. L. Gibbs Sexual selection and mating patterns in a mammal with female-biased sexual size dimorphism Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2004; 15(2): 351 - 356. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Heckel and O. von Helversen Male tactics and reproductive success in the harem polygynous bat Saccopteryx bilineata Behav. Ecol., November 1, 2002; 13(6): 750 - 756. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Cercueil, E. Bellemain, and S. Manel PARENTE: Computer Program for Parentage Analysis J. Hered., November 1, 2002; 93(6): 458 - 459. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. S. Utami, B. Goossens, M. W. Bruford, J. R. de Ruiter, and J. A.R.A.M. van Hooff Male bimaturism and reproductive success in Sumatran orang-utans Behav. Ecol., September 1, 2002; 13(5): 643 - 652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. L. Engh, S. M. Funk, R. C. V. Horn, K. T. Scribner, M. W. Bruford, S. Libants, M. Szykman, L. Smale, and K. E. Holekamp Reproductive skew among males in a female-dominated mammalian society Behav. Ecol., March 1, 2002; 13(2): 193 - 200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Garant, J. J. Dodson, and L. Bernatchez A Genetic Evaluation of Mating System and Determinants of Individual Reproductive Success in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.) J. Hered., March 1, 2001; 92(2): 137 - 145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. E. B. Kruuk, T. H. Clutton-Brock, J. Slate, J. M. Pemberton, S. Brotherstone, and F. E. Guinness Heritability of fitness in a wild mammal population PNAS, January 18, 2000; 97(2): 698 - 703. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. P. Poston, R. H. Wiley, and D. F. Westneat Male rank, female breeding synchrony, and patterns of paternity in the boat-tailed grackle Behav. Ecol., July 1, 1999; 10(4): 444 - 451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. W. Coltman, W. D. Bowen, and J. M. Wright A multivariate analysis of phenotype and paternity in male harbor seals, Phoca vitulina, at Sable Island, Nova Scotia Behav. Ecol., March 1, 1999; 10(2): 169 - 177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. W. Slade, C. Moritz, A. R. Hoelzel, and H. R. Burton Molecular Population Genetics of the Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Genetics, August 1, 1998; 149(4): 1945 - 1957. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|