Inbreeding tolerance and fitness costs in wild bottlenose dolphins

Celine H Frere; M Krützen; A M Kopps; P Ward; J Mann; W B Sherwin

doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.0039

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Inbreeding tolerance and fitness costs in wild bottlenose dolphins

Journal article

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Inbreeding tolerance and fitness costs in wild bottlenose dolphins

Celine H Frere, M Krützen, A M Kopps, P Ward, J Mann and W B Sherwin

Proceedings. Biological sciences, Vol.277(1694), pp.2667-2673

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.0039

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Abstract

inbreeding

inbreeding depression

fitness

mammals

dolphins

In wild populations, inbreeding tolerance is expected to evolve where the cost of avoidance exceeds that of tolerance. We show that in a wild population of bottlenose dolphins found in East Shark Bay, Western Australia, levels of inbreeding are higher than expected by chance alone, and demonstrate that inbreeding is deleterious to female fitness in two independent ways. We found that inbred females, and females with inbred calves, have reduced fitness (lower calving success). We further show that one of the costs of inbreeding is extended weaning age, and that females' earlier calves are more likely to be inbred. While the exact causes of inbreeding remain obscure, our results indicate that one factor is female age, and thus experience. Any inbreeding avoidance mechanisms such as female evasion of kin, or male dispersal, do not seem to be completely effective in this population, which supports the view that inbreeding avoidance does not always evolve wherever inbreeding incurs a cost.

Details

Title: Inbreeding tolerance and fitness costs in wild bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Celine H Frere (Author) - University of New South Wales
M Krützen (Author) - University of Zurich, Switzerland
A M Kopps (Author) - University of Zurich, Switzerland
P Ward (Author) - University of Queensland
J Mann (Author) - Georgetown University, United States
W B Sherwin (Author) - University of New South Wales
Publication details: Proceedings. Biological sciences, Vol.277(1694), pp.2667-2673
Publisher: Royal Society Publishing
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.0039
ISSN: 0962-8452
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449031502621
Output Type: Journal article

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