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Similar to other small cetacean species, Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) have
been the object of concentrated behavioral study. Although mating and courtship behaviors
occur often and the social structure of the population is well-studied, the genetic mating system
of the species is unknown. To assess the genetic mating system, we genotyped females
and their progeny at ten microsatellite loci. Genotype analysis provided estimates of
the minimum number of male sires necessary to account for the allelic diversity observed
among the progeny. Using the estimates of male sires, we determined whether females
mated with the same or different males during independent estrus events. Using GERUD2.0,
a minimum of two males was necessary to account for the genetic variation seen among
progeny arrays of all tested females. ML-RELATE assigned the most likely relationship between
offspring pairs; half or full sibling. Relationship analysis supported the conservative
male estimates of GERUD2.0 but in some cases, half or full sibling relationships between offspring
could not be fully resolved. Integrating the results from GERUD2.0, ML-RELATE with previous
observational and paternity data, we constructed two-, three-, and four-male pedigree
models for each genotyped female. Because increased genetic diversity of offspring may
explain multi-male mating, we assessed the internal genetic relatedness of each offspring’s
genotype to determine whether parent pairs of offspring were closely related. We found
varying levels of internal relatedness ranging from unrelated to closely related (range
-0.136–0.321). Because there are several hypothesized explanations for multi-male mating,
we assessed our data to determine the most plausible explanation for multi-male mating in
our study system. Our study indicated females may benefit from mating with multiple males
by passing genes for long-term viability to their young.
been the object of concentrated behavioral study. Although mating and courtship behaviors
occur often and the social structure of the population is well-studied, the genetic mating system
of the species is unknown. To assess the genetic mating system, we genotyped females
and their progeny at ten microsatellite loci. Genotype analysis provided estimates of
the minimum number of male sires necessary to account for the allelic diversity observed
among the progeny. Using the estimates of male sires, we determined whether females
mated with the same or different males during independent estrus events. Using GERUD2.0,
a minimum of two males was necessary to account for the genetic variation seen among
progeny arrays of all tested females. ML-RELATE assigned the most likely relationship between
offspring pairs; half or full sibling. Relationship analysis supported the conservative
male estimates of GERUD2.0 but in some cases, half or full sibling relationships between offspring
could not be fully resolved. Integrating the results from GERUD2.0, ML-RELATE with previous
observational and paternity data, we constructed two-, three-, and four-male pedigree
models for each genotyped female. Because increased genetic diversity of offspring may
explain multi-male mating, we assessed the internal genetic relatedness of each offspring’s
genotype to determine whether parent pairs of offspring were closely related. We found
varying levels of internal relatedness ranging from unrelated to closely related (range
-0.136–0.321). Because there are several hypothesized explanations for multi-male mating,
we assessed our data to determine the most plausible explanation for multi-male mating in
our study system. Our study indicated females may benefit from mating with multiple males
by passing genes for long-term viability to their young.
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