Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system
Abstract Background The adaptive significance of female polyandry is currently under considerable debate. In non-resource based mating systems, indirect, i.e. genetic benefits have been proposed to be responsible for the fitness gain from polyandry. We studied the benefits of polyandry in the Arctic...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:1471-2148-10-20 2023-05-15T14:30:12+02:00 Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system Kekäläinen, Jukka Rudolfsen, Geir Janhunen, Matti Figenschou, Lars Peuhkuri, Nina Tamper, Niina Kortet, Raine 2010-01-22 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/20 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/20 Copyright 2010 Kekäläinen et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Research article 2010 ftbiomed 2010-02-28T00:26:59Z Abstract Background The adaptive significance of female polyandry is currently under considerable debate. In non-resource based mating systems, indirect, i.e. genetic benefits have been proposed to be responsible for the fitness gain from polyandry. We studied the benefits of polyandry in the Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) using an experimental design in which the material investments by the sires and maternal environmental effects were controlled. Results Embryonic mortality showed a strong paternal genetic component, and it was lower in polyandrously fertilized offspring (sperm competition of two males) than in monandrous fertilizations. We also found that high sperm velocity was associated with low offspring mortality, but not with the size of the offspring or their yolk volume. Although no male effect was found on the size of the offspring yolk reserves, yolk volume was higher in offspring from polyandrous matings than offspring of the either of the two males when mated monandrously. Conclusions In support of the "good sperm hypothesis, we found that sperm velocity was positively associated with offspring fitness. In addition, our results suggest that polyandrous females gain genetic advantage (higher offspring survival) from this behavior, but that some benefits of polyandry (larger yolk volume) may not be explained solely by the additive genetic effects. This suggests that sperm competition environment may intensify the selection on genetically superior sperm which in turn may produce offspring that have superior yolk reserves. However, as high sperm velocity was not associated with larger yolk volume, it is possible that also some other non-genetic effects may contribute to offspring fitness. The potential role of polyandrous mating in inbreeding avoidance is discussed. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus BioMed Central Arctic |
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BioMed Central |
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English |
description |
Abstract Background The adaptive significance of female polyandry is currently under considerable debate. In non-resource based mating systems, indirect, i.e. genetic benefits have been proposed to be responsible for the fitness gain from polyandry. We studied the benefits of polyandry in the Arctic charr ( Salvelinus alpinus ) using an experimental design in which the material investments by the sires and maternal environmental effects were controlled. Results Embryonic mortality showed a strong paternal genetic component, and it was lower in polyandrously fertilized offspring (sperm competition of two males) than in monandrous fertilizations. We also found that high sperm velocity was associated with low offspring mortality, but not with the size of the offspring or their yolk volume. Although no male effect was found on the size of the offspring yolk reserves, yolk volume was higher in offspring from polyandrous matings than offspring of the either of the two males when mated monandrously. Conclusions In support of the "good sperm hypothesis, we found that sperm velocity was positively associated with offspring fitness. In addition, our results suggest that polyandrous females gain genetic advantage (higher offspring survival) from this behavior, but that some benefits of polyandry (larger yolk volume) may not be explained solely by the additive genetic effects. This suggests that sperm competition environment may intensify the selection on genetically superior sperm which in turn may produce offspring that have superior yolk reserves. However, as high sperm velocity was not associated with larger yolk volume, it is possible that also some other non-genetic effects may contribute to offspring fitness. The potential role of polyandrous mating in inbreeding avoidance is discussed. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kekäläinen, Jukka Rudolfsen, Geir Janhunen, Matti Figenschou, Lars Peuhkuri, Nina Tamper, Niina Kortet, Raine |
spellingShingle |
Kekäläinen, Jukka Rudolfsen, Geir Janhunen, Matti Figenschou, Lars Peuhkuri, Nina Tamper, Niina Kortet, Raine Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
author_facet |
Kekäläinen, Jukka Rudolfsen, Geir Janhunen, Matti Figenschou, Lars Peuhkuri, Nina Tamper, Niina Kortet, Raine |
author_sort |
Kekäläinen, Jukka |
title |
Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
title_short |
Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
title_full |
Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
title_fullStr |
Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
title_full_unstemmed |
Genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
title_sort |
genetic and potential non-genetic benefits increase offspring fitness of polyandrous females in non-resource based mating system |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/20 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus |
genre_facet |
Arctic charr Arctic Salvelinus alpinus |
op_relation |
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/10/20 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2010 Kekäläinen et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
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1766304092033908736 |