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A genetic analysis of breeding success in the cooperative meerkat (Suricata suricatta)

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Listed:
  • Ashleigh S. Griffin
  • Josephine M. Pemberton
  • Peter N. M. Brotherton
  • Grant McIlrath
  • David Gaynor
  • Ruth Kansky
  • Justin O'Riain
  • Timothy H. Clutton-Brock

Abstract

Measurement of reproductive skew in social groups is fundamental to understanding the evolution and maintenance of sociality, as it determines the immediate fitness benefits to helpers of staying and helping in a group. However, there is a lack of studies in natural populations that provide reliable measures of reproductive skew and the correlates of reproductive success, particularly in vertebrates. We present results of a study that uses a combination of field and genetic (microsatellite) data on a cooperatively breeding mongoose, the meerkat (Suricata suricatta). We sampled 458 individuals from 16 groups at two sites and analyzed parentage of pups in 110 litters with up to 12 microsatellites. We show that there is strong reproductive skew in favor of dominants, but that the extent of skew differs between the sexes and between different sites. Our data suggest that the reproductive skew arises from incest avoidance and reproductive suppression of the subordinates by the dominants. Copyright 2003.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashleigh S. Griffin & Josephine M. Pemberton & Peter N. M. Brotherton & Grant McIlrath & David Gaynor & Ruth Kansky & Justin O'Riain & Timothy H. Clutton-Brock, 2003. "A genetic analysis of breeding success in the cooperative meerkat (Suricata suricatta)," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 14(4), pages 472-480, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:beheco:v:14:y:2003:i:4:p:472-480
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/beheco/arg040
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. H. J. Nichols & M. B. V. Bell & S. J. Hodge & M. A. Cant, 2012. "Resource limitation moderates the adaptive suppression of subordinate breeding in a cooperatively breeding mongoose," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(3), pages 635-642.
    2. Mark Dyble & Tim H Clutton-Brock, 2023. "Turnover in male dominance offsets the positive effect of polygyny on within-group relatedness," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 34(2), pages 261-268.
    3. Amanda M. Sparkman & Jennifer R. Adams & Todd D. Steury & Lisette P. Waits & Dennis L. Murray, 2012. "Pack social dynamics and inbreeding avoidance in the cooperatively breeding red wolf," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(6), pages 1186-1194.

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