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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Inbreeding and inbreeding depression of early life traits in a cooperative mammal
Molecular Ecology, Volume 21, No. 11, Year 2012
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Description
Mating between relatives often results in negative fitness consequences or inbreeding depression. However, the expression of inbreeding in populations of wild cooperative mammals and the effects of environmental, maternal and social factors on inbreeding depression in these systems are currently not well understood. This study uses pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients from a long-term study of meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in South Africa to reveal that 44% of the population have detectably non-zero (F > 0) inbreeding coefficients. 15% of these inbred individuals were the result of moderate inbreeding (F ≥ 0.125), although such inbreeding events almost solely occurred when mating individuals had no prior experience of each other. Inbreeding depression was evident for a range of traits: pup mass at emergence from the natal burrow, hind-foot length, growth until independence and juvenile survival. However, we found no evidence of significant inbreeding depression for skull and forearm length or for pup survival. This research provides a rare investigation into inbreeding in a cooperative mammal, revealing high levels of inbreeding, considerable negative consequences and complex interactions with the social environment. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Nielsen, Johanna Fønss
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
English, Sinéad
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Goodall-Copestake, William Paul
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
United Kingdom, Cambridge
British Antarctic Survey
Wang, Jinliang
United Kingdom, London
Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology
Walling, Craig A.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Bateman, Andrew W.
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Flower, Tom P.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Sutcliffe, Robert L.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Samson, Jamie
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Thavarajah, Nathan K.
South Africa, Pretoria
University of Pretoria
Kruuk, Loeske E.B.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Clutton-Brock, Tim H.
United Kingdom, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
Pemberton, Josephine M.
United Kingdom, Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh
Statistics
Citations: 79
Authors: 13
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05565.x
ISSN:
09621083
e-ISSN:
1365294X
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Mental Health
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
South Africa