Abstract
Population density might be an important variable in determining the degree of multiple paternity. In a previous study, a high level of multiple paternity was detected in the shiner perch Cymatogaster aggregata, a species with high population density and a high mate encounter rate. The tule perch Hysterocarpus traski is phylogenetically closely related to C. aggregata, but it has relatively lower population density, which may result in distinct patterns of multiple paternity in these 2 species. To test the hypothesis that mate encounter rate may affect the rate of successful mating, we used polymorphic microsatellite markers to identify multiple paternity in the progeny arrays of 12 pregnant females from a natural population of tule perch. Multiple paternity was detected in 11 (92%) of the 12 broods. The number of sires per brood ranged from 1 to 4 (mean 2.5) but with no correlation between sire number and brood size. Although the brood size of tule perch is considerably larger than that of shiner perch (40.7 vs. 12.9, respectively), the average number of sires per brood in tule perch is much lower than that in shiner perch (2.5 vs. 4.6, respectively). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that mate encounter rate is an important factor affecting multiple mating.
Highlights
The tule perch (Hysterocarpus traski) is a viviparous surfperch (Embiotocidae) native to the rivers and estuaries of California, and is the only freshwater surfperch
By analyzing highly variable microsatellite loci, high degrees of multiple paternity have been detected in 3 other surfperch species, all of which are marine: shiner perch (Liu and Avise 2011), black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni), and striped seaperch (E. lateralis; Reisser et al 2009)
Water transparency is low in Suisun Marsh, with average secchi depths being generally less than 30 cm (Schroeter and Moyle 2004) and much lower than in the coastal California waters inhabited by the other surfperch species (Tibby and Terry 1958)
Summary
The tule perch (Hysterocarpus traski) is a viviparous surfperch (Embiotocidae) native to the rivers and estuaries of California, and is the only freshwater surfperch By analyzing highly variable microsatellite loci, high degrees of multiple paternity have been detected in 3 other surfperch species, all of which are marine: shiner perch (Liu and Avise 2011), black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni), and striped seaperch (E. lateralis; Reisser et al 2009). These findings indicate that multiple paternity is generally common in Journal of Heredity 2013:104(2). If population density and water transparency are important variables influencing effective rates of mate encounter and multiple paternity, we would expect a much lower degree of multiple paternity in tule perch than in the other surfperches previously analyzed.
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