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Female fur seals show active choice for males that are heterozygous and unrelated

Author

Listed:
  • J. I. Hoffman

    (University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK)

  • J. Forcada

    (British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK)

  • P. N. Trathan

    (British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK)

  • W. Amos

    (University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK)

Abstract

Seals of approval Choosy females of many species congregate in or visit specific places called leks where males display, advertising themselves as potential mates. But there's a potential catch — if females always prefer the flashiest males, genetic variance will be weeded out. A study of a colony of Antarctic fur seals in South Georgia may go some way towards resolving this 'lek paradox'. Here the female fur seals are prepared to travel to find the best mate. The males are essentially static, and the females move around the colony, in a kind of extended lek, choosing between the males. As a result, the females manage to balance relatedness of potential mate against heterozygosity, maintaining variation.

Suggested Citation

  • J. I. Hoffman & J. Forcada & P. N. Trathan & W. Amos, 2007. "Female fur seals show active choice for males that are heterozygous and unrelated," Nature, Nature, vol. 445(7130), pages 912-914, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:445:y:2007:i:7130:d:10.1038_nature05558
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05558
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    Cited by:

    1. Adeline Loyau & Jérémie H Cornuau & Jean Clobert & Étienne Danchin, 2012. "Incestuous Sisters: Mate Preference for Brothers over Unrelated Males in Drosophila melanogaster," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(12), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Hazel J. Nichols & Michael A. Cant & Jennifer L. Sanderson, 2015. "Adjustment of costly extra-group paternity according to inbreeding risk in a cooperative mammal," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 26(6), pages 1486-1494.
    3. Hanne C Lie & Leigh W Simmons & Gillian Rhodes, 2009. "Does Genetic Diversity Predict Health in Humans?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(7), pages 1-7, July.

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