Abstract
Kinship and inbreeding are two major components involved in sexual selection and mating system evolution. However, the mechanisms underlying recognition and discrimination of genetically related or inbred individuals remain unclear. We investigated whether kinship and inbreeding information is related to low‐frequency vocalizations, “booms,” produced by males during their courtship in the lekking houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata undulata). Based on a captive breeding program where the pedigree of all males is known, we investigated the similarity of booms’ acoustic parameters among captive males more or less individually inbred and therefore genetically related with each other. In the wild, we investigated the relationship between the spatial distribution of males within leks and the similarity of acoustic parameters of their booms. In the captive population, we found (a) a relationship between the individual inbreeding level of captive males and their vocalization parameters; (b) that kin share similar frequency and temporal characteristics of their vocalizations. In the wild, we found no evidence for spatial structuring of males based on their acoustic parameters, in agreement with previous genetic findings on the absence of kin association within houbara bustard leks. Overall, our results indicate that genetic information potentially related to both the identity and quality of males is contained in their vocalizations.
Highlights
In the context of sexual selection, one major element of the mating system and reproductive behavior is the communication between in‐ dividuals, allowing the attraction and stimulation between potential sexual partners, as well as interactions between individuals of the same sex (Andersson, 1994)
Most traits associated with identity or quality are to some de‐ gree heritable through genetic transmission to the progeny as shown in a variety of taxa and for multiple sensory channels
By taking advantage of a conservation breeding, where the pedigree of all captive males is known (Chargé et al, 2014), we investigated acoustic parameters in captivity in related males to test whether kinship information is signaled in the vocalizations produced during the courtship
Summary
In the context of sexual selection, one major element of the mating system and reproductive behavior is the communication between in‐ dividuals, allowing the attraction and stimulation between potential sexual partners, as well as interactions between individuals of the same sex (Andersson, 1994). | 4422 aggregates primarily for mating, and male reproductive investment is limited to the fertilization of female gametes, leading to high level of competition between males (Höglund & Alatalo, 1995) In such con‐ text, males with low mating probability might preferentially join leks where the dominant male is a close relative, through kin recognition and association (kin selection; Kokko & Lindström, 1996). Most traits associated with identity or quality are to some de‐ gree heritable through genetic transmission to the progeny as shown in a variety of taxa and for multiple sensory channels (e.g., odor: ring‐tailed lemur Lemur catta, Charpentier, Boulet, & Drea, 2008; acoustic signals: zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, Forstmeier, Burger, Temnow, & Derégnaucourt, 2009; visual traits: guppies Poecilia reticulate; Houde, 1992). Because previous findings indicate an absence of kin association among males within leks (Lesobre, 2008), we did not expect any strong association between spatial location and vocalization parameters
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