Occurrence Of Multiple Paternity Research Articles

First evidence of multiple paternity in the blue shark (Prionace glauca).

Multiple paternity (MP) is defined as the behaviour in which females successfully mate with multiple males leading to offspring from different sires within the same litter. MP seems to be frequent and an evolutionary advantage in elasmobranchs. Here the authors report for the first time the occurrence of MP in the cosmopolitan blue shark Prionace glauca L. The evidence, gathered via microsatellite genotyping of pregnant females and their embryos, suggests that MP is very frequent in this species. Knowledge of MP in P. glauca should help describe more precisely its reproductive biology and contribute to the management of its populations.

Evidence of multiple paternity for the endemic Xingu River stingray.

Multiple paternity (MP) is a phenomenon observed for more than 30 elasmobranch species. The Batoidea is more specious than the Selachii, but only three studies of MP have been conducted on batoids. The occurrence of MP in freshwater stingrays was tested using microsatellite markers, which were developed for Potamotrygon leopoldi. Six mothers and their litters were genotyped, providing the first evidence of MP for Potamotrygonidae, with an MP frequency of 33%.

The evolution of pueriparity maintains multiple paternity in a polymorphic viviparous salamander

The reduction in fecundity associated with the evolution of viviparity may have far-reaching implications for the ecology, demography, and evolution of populations. The evolution of a polygamous behaviour (e.g. polyandry) may counteract some of the effects underlying a lower fecundity, such as the reduction in genetic diversity. Comparing patterns of multiple paternity between reproductive modes allows us to understand how viviparity accounts for the trade-off between offspring quality and quantity. We analysed genetic patterns of paternity and offspring genetic diversity across 42 families from two modes of viviparity in a reproductive polymorphic species, Salamandra salamandra. This species shows an ancestral (larviparity: large clutches of free aquatic larvae), and a derived reproductive mode (pueriparity: smaller clutches of larger terrestrial juveniles). Our results confirm the existence of multiple paternity in pueriparous salamanders. Furthermore, we show the evolution of pueriparity maintains, and even increases, the occurrence of multiple paternity and the number of sires compared to larviparity, though we did not find a clear effect on genetic diversity. High incidence of multiple paternity in pueriparous populations might arise as a mechanism to avoid fertilization failures and to ensure reproductive success, and thus has important implications in highly isolated populations with small broods.

Why do females of a lekking species mate with multiple males?

In Focus: Rivers, P. R., & DuVal, E. H. (2020). Multiple paternity in a lek mating system: Females mate multiply when they choose inexperienced sires. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89, 1142-1152. In many socially monogamous species with biparental care, some females engage in extra-pair copulations, despite the apparent risk of losing male help in raising their brood. Why females mate with multiple males remains the focus of intense debate, but may be linked to constraints in social mate choice. If so, multiple mating is not expected in a lekking mating system, where females receive no resources from the male other than sperm and are free to choose the 'best' mate to sire their offspring. Rivers and DuVal (2020) report on the occurrence of multiple paternity in lekking lance-tailed manakins and test several hypotheses to explain it. Their study shows that lower-ranked males and males with less experience were more likely to share paternity. However, the process underlying this pattern remains puzzling. The authors suggest female choice related to male characteristics that change with experience as an explanation, but alternative scenarios cannot be excluded.

Evidence of multiple paternal contribution in Podocnemis sextuberculata (Testudines: Podocnemididae) detected by microsatellite markers

Evidência de contribuição paterna múltipla em Podocnemis sextuberculata (Chelonia: Podocnemididae) por meio de marcadores microssatélites. Encontramos evidências de paternidade múltipla em uma amostra de 80 recém-eclodidos de sete ninhos de Podocnemis sextuberculata situados ao longo do rio Amazonas, no município de Barreirinha, AM, Brasil, e 54 indivíduos recém-eclodidos de cinco ninhos na Reserva Biológica Abufari, Tapauá, AM, Brasil. Como observado em outras espécies do gênero, P. sextuberculata apresentou comportamento poliândrico. Por meio da frequência alélica e variação em seis locos microssatélite para cada localidade, a ocorrência de paternidade múltipla em ninhos amostrados dessa espécie foi inferida, mesmo o genótipo da mãe sendo desconhecido. Para um dos ninhos, um mínimo de quatro machos contribuíram para a prole, enquanto que para quase todos os outros ninhos, pelo menos dois machos contribuíram. Apenas um dos 12 ninhos não mostrou evidência clara de contribuição de mais de um macho. Esta é a primeira evidência genética de paternidade múltipla em P. sextuberculata.

Mating success and sexual selection in a pelagic copepod, Temora longicornis : Evidence from paternity analyses

Knowledge about mating patterns is essential for understanding and explaining rates of reproduction and genetic potential of copepods populations. The aim of this study was to examine (1) the occurrence of multiple paternity in Temora longicornis, (2) the effect of multiple paternity (if present) on the females reproductive output, and (3) whether mating is random or some individuals have a higher than average chance of fertilizing or being fertilized (super individuals). We show that multiple paternity is common in this copepod species, that females benefit from multiple matings by increased offspring production, and that a relatively small fraction of the males and females in a population account for most of the offspring production. In both males and females, mating is nonrandom. Superior individuals with a higher than average matings success were identified both among females and among males.

Environmental, social, morphological, and behavioral constraints on opportunistic multiple paternity

Multiple mating and multiple paternity in polytocous species have been mostly studied from an adaptive (i.e., cost–benefit) perspective. Disease, time, energy, and the risk of injuries are well-known costs of multiple mating, yet from both male and female perspectives, a number of genetic and non-genetic benefits have also been identified. The effects of environmental conditions and individual-specific behavior, however, are much less well understood. Using a long-term study on yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris), we evaluated the impacts of environmental variation, social structure, female body mass, and female docility (a personality trait) on the occurrence of multiple paternity. Multiple paternity was influenced by environmental constraints, social constraints, a female’s personality, and her body mass at emergence from hibernation. Personality and mass effects were detected only when environmental or social conditions were favorable. Our results suggest that multiple paternity is mainly limited by the opportunity to have access to multiple mates and is influenced by costs or mate choice because heavier females were more likely to have litters with multiple sires than smaller ones. Future studies in other species might benefit from considering environmental constraints when studying multiple paternity.

Mating Systems and Multiple Paternity in the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Microsatellite markers were used to investigate the mating system of the Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). Three-hundred and eighty-six hatchlings from 13 clutches from a wild Northern Territory population, and 364 hatchlings from 21 clutches from a captive North Queensland population, were sampled. All samples were genotyped across five microsatellite loci. Multiple paternity was found in 69% of clutches in the wild population compared to 38% of clutches in the captive population. Up to three possible fathers were indicated in some clutches. Shared paternity was suggested by the presence of a common paternal genotype within two clutches in the wild population and among up to three clutches from a large shared pen in the captive population. The probability of detecting multiple paternity at all loci was high; 95% in the wild population and 98% in the captive population. There was no evidence of increased hatching success in the clutches that indicated multiple paternity compared to single paternity clutches in either population (P = 0.43 to P = 0.67). It is unknown whether the occurrence of multiple paternity in C. porosus is a result of multiple mating within the same breeding season or of sperm stored from matings in a previous season. These results suggest the genetic mating system for C. porosus is not polygynous but more likely promiscuous, and there is no evidence of dominant alpha males who control paternity in large areas.

Promiscuity, male reproductive success and mate relatedness in a natural population of the common vole

Behavioural ecologists have long been interested in mating systems and variance of reproductive success. Highly variable molecular markers now enable researchers to reassess mating systems from the genetic point of view. We used 10 microsatellite loci to detail the mating pattern and male reproductive success in a natural population of the common vole Microtus arvalis, one of the most numerous species in Europe. By genotyping 32 females and their offspring, we found evidence for multiple paternity in 50% of litters sired by two or three males. This result was confirmed by paternity analysis of candidate fathers caught in the population; it also showed that both males and females mated with several unrelated partners. Comparisons of two sires in a given multiple-sire litter showed their relatedness to be low. The common vole population was characterized by a relatively high standardized variance of male reproductive success, indicating that males competed for mating. While one of the males could sire up to 83% of offspring in a multiple-sire litter, mating with an already mated female gave lower reproductive success than mating with one female exclusively. Our results suggest that the occurrence of multiple paternity in the common vole population can be explained by the inability of males to monopolize and mate with all females of a colony, and also by their tendency to increase their reproductive success by getting access to already mated females.

Promiscuity and high level of multiple paternity in common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis): data from microsatellite markers

AbstractLittle is known about the mating system of the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis. Behavioural and observational data have demonstrated that females frequently mate with multiple males. However, the possible occurrence of multiple paternity has never been investigated. By using microsatellite paternity analysis in a wild population, we document this species indeed mate promiscuously and these matings resulted in multiple paternity in at least 87% of the clutches examined.

MULTIPLE PATERNITY IN WHITE-TAILED DEER (ODOCOILEUS VIRGINIANUS) REVEALED BY DNA MICROSATELLITES

Abstract Multiple paternity in single litters (siring of offspring by >1 male) has been documented in several taxa with different mating systems. However, information on occurrence of multiple paternity in ungulates is lacking. We used 19 DNA microsatellite markers to assign parentage in 41 litters of captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) born in 6 pens with multiple males during 1997–1999. We detected multiple paternity in 7 of 27 litters with ≥2 offspring, occurring in 4 of 6 pens: 2 of 3 triplet litters and 5 of 24 twin litters. This is the first reported evidence of multiple paternity for single ungulate litters, which indicates that some aspects of ungulate reproductive ecology are not well understood. The occurrence of multiple paternity in litters of free-ranging ungulates would have implications for ungulate mating systems and reproductive strategies. Sex-linked microsatellite markers may provide a promising method for investigating female promiscuity in free-ranging ungulate populati...

Reproductive anatomy, precopulatory mate guarding, and paternity in the socorro isopod, thermosphaeroma thermophilum

We examine the reproductive anatomy of both sexes of the isopod Thermosphaeroma thermo‐philum using SEM and light microscopy, and study the occurrence of multiple paternity using allozyme electrophoresis. Female reproductive openings are found ventrally, under the cuticular plate covering the body between the fifth and seventh pereonites. Receptivity for copulation is short during the sexual moult. Sperm from copulation are stored within the oviducts, close to the ovary, for up to two weeks before fertilisation and oviposition into ventral brood pouches. Sperm are not stored between broods. Male genitalia consist of penes with erectile extensions, and curved, channelled appendices masculinae. We suggest that appendices masculinae either channel sperm from the penes to oviduct openings located beneath the cuticular plate, or are used to push aside the cuticular plate for penile intromission. Paternity analyses suggest that multiple paternity is uncommon and that precopulatory guarding is an effective mate monopolisation strategy for males. We discuss the evolution of reproductive anatomy in the context of intersexual conflict, and suggest that conflict resolution may play a prominent role in the evolution of temporally restricted receptivity, male mate guarding, sperm storage, and delayed oviposition.

Multiple paternity in the common frog (Rana temporaria): genetic evidence from tadpole kin groups

Abstract Very few studies have investigated the occurrence of multiple paternity and sperm competition in amphibians. We studied genetic relatedness within kin groups of tadpoles of an aquatically breeding anuranRana temporariausing allozymes. We collected samples from 52 naturally fertilized spawn clumps produced by single females at three breeding sites in two populations. We estimated relatedness (r) within kin groups, and compared the observed genotype distributions of the tadpoles (on average 23 individuals in each group) with the expected distributions based on single mating. Average relatedness over five polymorphic loci was 0.44 and 0.43 in the two populations, the latter being significantly smaller than that expected by single mating (0.5). The number of patrilines, calculated from relatedness estimates, was 1.3 in one population and 1.4 in the other. Genotype distributions deviated significantly from the expected in half of the kin groups and at all breeding sites. The results show that egg clutches ofR. temporariacommonly contain multiply sired offspring. We suggest that communal breeding may affect paternity patterns inR. temporariaas well as in anurans in general.