Correlates of genetic monogamy in socially monogamous mammals: insights from Azara's owl monkeys
Affiliation
Department of Biological and Forensic Sciences, University of DerbyGerman Primate Centre
Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania
Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral, Conicet, Corrientes, Argentina
Issue Date
2014-05-07
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Understanding the evolution of mating systems, a central topic in evolutionary biology for more than 50 years, requires examining the genetic consequences of mating and the relationships between social systems and mating systems. Among pair-living mammals, where genetic monogamy is extremely rare, the extent of extra-group paternity rates has been associated withmale participation in infant care, strength of the pair bond and length of the breeding season. This study evaluated the relationship between two of those factors and the genetic mating system of socially monogamous mammals, testing predictions that male care and strength of pair bond would be negatively correlated with rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP). Autosomal microsatellite analyses provide evidence for genetic monogamy in a pair-living primate with bi-parental care, the Azara’s owl monkey (Aotus azarae). A phylogenetically corrected generalized least square analysis was used to relate male care and strength of the pair bond to their genetic mating system (i.e. proportions of EPP) in 15 socially monogamous mammalian species. The intensity of male care was correlated with EPP rates in mammals, while strength of pair bond failed to reach statistical significance. Our analyses showthat, once social monogamy has evolved, paternal care, and potentially also close bonds, may facilitate the evolution of genetic monogamy.Citation
Huck, M. et al (2014) 'Correlates of genetic monogamy in socially monogamous mammals: insights from Azara's owl monkeys', Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1782):20140195. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0195Journal
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological SciencesDOI
10.1098/rspb.2014.0195Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0962-84521471-2954
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1098/rspb.2014.0195
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