A genetic assessment of parentage in a natural population of dollar sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) based on microsatellite markers.

M Mackiewicz,J A Dewoody,D E Fletcher,S D Wilkins,J C Avise

doi:10.1046/j.1365-294x.2002.01577.x

Abstract

We employ microsatellite markers to assess mating tactics in Lepomis marginatus. Genetic assignments for 1015 progeny in 23 nests indicate that about 95% of the offspring were sired by their respective nest-guardians, a finding consistent with the apparent absence of a brood parasitic morphotype in this species. Allopaternal care was documented in two nests, one resulting from a nest takeover, the other from cuckoldry by an adjoining nest-tender. Clustered de novo mutations also were identified. About 2.5 females (range 1-7) contributed to the offspring pool within a typical nest. Results are compared to those for other Lepomis species.

Highlights

The value of documenting genetic parentage by molecular markers has been demonstrated in many taxonomic groups (e.g. Avise 1994; Birkhead & Möller 1998)
Fishes display especially diverse mating behaviours and reproductive tactics (Taborsky 1994, 1997, 2001; Gross 1996; Henson & Warner 1997) whose consequences in terms of genetic parentage have been clarified by the use of such markers
The genetic data show that these nest-tenders do not invariably sire all embryos in their respective nests

Summary

Introduction

The value of documenting genetic parentage by molecular markers has been demonstrated in many taxonomic groups (e.g. Avise 1994; Birkhead & Möller 1998). Fishes display especially diverse mating behaviours and reproductive tactics (Taborsky 1994, 1997, 2001; Gross 1996; Henson & Warner 1997) whose consequences in terms of genetic parentage have been clarified by the use of such markers (reviews in Avise 2001; Avise et al 2002). In most Centrarchidae, ‘bourgeois’ males build and tend nests, court females, and care for eggs and young (Breder 1936; Breder & Rosen 1966; Etnier & Starnes 1993). The genetic data show that these nest-tenders do not invariably sire all embryos in their respective nests. Instead, they sometimes are cuckolded by other males who ‘steal’ varying fractions of the fertilization events in a tended nest. Two behavioural avenues to allopaternal care — egg thievery and nest takeovers — have recently

Methods

Results

Conclusion