Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate?
Abstract In polygynous systems, such as that exhibited by reindeer Rangifer tarandus, mate choice can be difficult to disentangle from male intrasexual competition because male behavior may constrain female choice. Multiple mating may provide an avenue for female mate choice, though it is difficult...
Published in: | Current Zoology |
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Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
2022
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoac054 https://academic.oup.com/cz/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/cz/zoac054/45200397/zoac054.pdf https://academic.oup.com/cz/article-pdf/69/4/377/51218316/zoac054.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/cz/zoac054 2024-10-13T14:08:40+00:00 Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? Coombs, Keenin R Weladji, Robert B Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H Hare, James Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NORDFORSK 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoac054 https://academic.oup.com/cz/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/cz/zoac054/45200397/zoac054.pdf https://academic.oup.com/cz/article-pdf/69/4/377/51218316/zoac054.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Current Zoology volume 69, issue 4, page 377-384 ISSN 1674-5507 2396-9814 journal-article 2022 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoac054 2024-09-24T04:08:00Z Abstract In polygynous systems, such as that exhibited by reindeer Rangifer tarandus, mate choice can be difficult to disentangle from male intrasexual competition because male behavior may constrain female choice. Multiple mating may provide an avenue for female mate choice, though it is difficult to identify using behavioral estimators alone. Molecular techniques address this issue by affording ecologists an opportunity to reassess mating systems from a genetic perspective. We assessed the frequency and possible explanations for multiple mating in reindeer using a genetic approach to determine the success of observed copulations in a semi-domesticated herd in Kaamanen, Finland. Behavioral and genetic data were synthesized with population characteristics over a 7-year period to test the hypothesis that, if present, polyandry in reindeer is driven by sexual harassment from sub-dominant males. We observed multiple mating in 42% of females, with as many as 60% exhibiting multiple mating in certain years. We found no evidence that multiple mating resulted from sexual harassment by sub-dominant males, suggesting that it is likely a deliberate strategy among females. Conversion rate of copulations into paternities varied with male size, with smaller males more likely to experience mismatch than larger males. Female preference for larger males persisted despite the occurrence of multiple mating, possibly suggesting a mechanism for cryptic post-copulatory selection. We suggest further research to delineate the possible influence of cryptic post-copulatory selection and multiple mating to defend against infertility in exhausted males. Article in Journal/Newspaper Kaamanen Rangifer tarandus Oxford University Press Kaamanen ENVELOPE(27.000,27.000,69.050,69.050) Current Zoology |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract In polygynous systems, such as that exhibited by reindeer Rangifer tarandus, mate choice can be difficult to disentangle from male intrasexual competition because male behavior may constrain female choice. Multiple mating may provide an avenue for female mate choice, though it is difficult to identify using behavioral estimators alone. Molecular techniques address this issue by affording ecologists an opportunity to reassess mating systems from a genetic perspective. We assessed the frequency and possible explanations for multiple mating in reindeer using a genetic approach to determine the success of observed copulations in a semi-domesticated herd in Kaamanen, Finland. Behavioral and genetic data were synthesized with population characteristics over a 7-year period to test the hypothesis that, if present, polyandry in reindeer is driven by sexual harassment from sub-dominant males. We observed multiple mating in 42% of females, with as many as 60% exhibiting multiple mating in certain years. We found no evidence that multiple mating resulted from sexual harassment by sub-dominant males, suggesting that it is likely a deliberate strategy among females. Conversion rate of copulations into paternities varied with male size, with smaller males more likely to experience mismatch than larger males. Female preference for larger males persisted despite the occurrence of multiple mating, possibly suggesting a mechanism for cryptic post-copulatory selection. We suggest further research to delineate the possible influence of cryptic post-copulatory selection and multiple mating to defend against infertility in exhausted males. |
author2 |
Hare, James Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada NORDFORSK |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Coombs, Keenin R Weladji, Robert B Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H |
spellingShingle |
Coombs, Keenin R Weladji, Robert B Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
author_facet |
Coombs, Keenin R Weladji, Robert B Holand, Øystein Røed, Knut H |
author_sort |
Coombs, Keenin R |
title |
Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
title_short |
Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
title_full |
Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
title_fullStr |
Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
title_sort |
mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate? |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoac054 https://academic.oup.com/cz/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/cz/zoac054/45200397/zoac054.pdf https://academic.oup.com/cz/article-pdf/69/4/377/51218316/zoac054.pdf |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(27.000,27.000,69.050,69.050) |
geographic |
Kaamanen |
geographic_facet |
Kaamanen |
genre |
Kaamanen Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Kaamanen Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Current Zoology volume 69, issue 4, page 377-384 ISSN 1674-5507 2396-9814 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/cz/zoac054 |
container_title |
Current Zoology |
_version_ |
1812815403755241472 |