Data from: Inbreeding and inbreeding depression of early life traits in a cooperative mammal
When using this data, please cite the original article:
Citation is not yet available for this article from Molecular Ecology. It will become available shortly after the article is published. |
Additionally, please cite the Dryad data package:
Nielsen J, English S, Goodall-Copestake W, Wang J, Walling C, Bateman A, Kruuk L, Clutton-Brock T, Pemberton J (2012) Data from: Inbreeding and inbreeding depression of early life traits in a cooperative mammal. Dryad Digital Repository. doi:10.5061/dryad.h90j32v2
| Dryad Package Identifier | doi:10.5061/dryad.h90j32v2 141 views | ||
| Abstract | 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. |
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| Keywords | Inbreeding, inbreeding depression, emergence mass, growth rate, juvenile survival, | ||
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| Scientific Names | Suricata suricatta |
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| Spatial Coverage | Southern Kalahari Desert South Africa 26°58’S 21°49’E |
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