Correlates of genetic monogamy in socially monogamous mammals: insights from Azara's owl monkeys

Abstract

Understanding the evolution of mating systems, a central topic in evolutionary biology for more than 50 years, requires examining the genetic consequences of mating and the relationships between social systems and mating systems. Among pair-living mammals, where genetic monogamy is extremely rare, the extent of extra-group paternity rates has been associated with male participation in infant care, strength of the pair bond and length of the breeding season. This study evaluated the relationship between two of those factors and the genetic mating system of socially monogamous mammals, testing predictions that male care and strength of pair bond would be negatively correlated with rates of extra-pair paternity (EPP). Autosomal microsatellite analyses provide evidence for genetic monogamy in a pair-living primate with bi-parental care, the Azara's owl monkey (Aotus azarae). A phylogenetically corrected generalized least square analysis was used to relate male care and strength of the pair bond to their genetic mating system (i.e. proportions of EPP) in 15 socially monogamous mammalian species. The intensity of male care was correlated with EPP rates in mammals, while strength of pair bond failed to reach statistical significance. Our analyses show that, once social monogamy has evolved, paternal care, and potentially also close bonds, may facilitate the evolution of genetic monogamy.

Evolutionary pattern in the OXT-OXTR system in primates: Coevolution and positive selection footprints

“…The result is that infant survival rates of experienced mothers with inexperienced fathers and no siblings are lower than those observed when both parents are experienced and siblings are present (36). In addition, even in some Cebidae species in which twin births are rare, paternal care is present, which could be connected to a strategy that promotes the evolution of genetic monogamy, such as observed in Aotus azarae (38) and Callimico goeldii (20).…”

Why “monogamy” isn't good enough

“…Paternal care and pair-living are frequently associated across animal species, but species with paternal care may have very high rates of extra-pair copulations (e.g., fattailed dwarf lemurs, C. medius, [Fietz & Dausmann, 2003]), or species can be monogamous and lack paternal care completely [Kleiman & Malcolm, 1981;Lack, 1968;Smuts & Gubernick, 1992;Wittenberger & Tilson, 1980]. Based on phylogenetic reconstructions, it is generally accepted that paternal care evolved after pair-living in most lineages, within mammals [Huck et al, 2014;Komers & Brotherton, 1997;Lukas & Clutton-Brock, 2013], and within primates specifically [Opie et al, 2013;Komers & Brotherton, 1997].…”

“…For example, pair-living species are commonly bonded [e.g., titi monkeys, Callicebus; Anzenberger et al, 1986], but bonding is not necessary for pair-living (e.g., red-tailed sportive lemurs, Lepilemur ruficaudatus; [Hilgartner et al, 2012]; fork-marked lemurs, Phaner furcifer; [Sch€ ulke, 2005]). Similarly, pair-living species commonly mate monogamously (e.g., Azara's owl monkey, Aotus azarae; [Huck et al, 2014]), but monogamous mating is not required (e.g., fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Cheirogaleus medius; [Fietz et al, 2000]). …”

A Saki Saga: Dynamic and Disruptive Relationships among Pithecia aequatorialis in Ecuador

“…Although researchers have long known that extra-pair copulations are a common mating strategy among many socially monogamous animals [Griffith et al, 2002;Morino, 2009;Huck et al, 2014], the formation of relatively stable groups with more than one adult of each sex in putatively pair-living species is only now being more thoroughly investigated. Among primates, early accounts of groups with multiple same-sex adults were first documented in gibbons [ Hylobates spp.…”