Multiple paternity in viviparous kelp rockfish, Sebastes atrovirens

Abstract

Analysis of multilocus microsatellite genotypes revealed multiple paternity for all of the seven viable broods of larvae produced by kelp rockfish, Sebastes atrovirens (Jordan and Gilbert 1880), held jointly in a large aquarium tank (n = eight females and eight males). Only two of the eight experimental males were identified as fathers, and alleles not found in any of the captive males were present in all seven broods, demonstrating paternity by wild males external to the experiment. Thus, all of the females mated with one or more males prior to capture, confirming that female kelp rockfish are capable of storing sperm and controlling the overall timing of egg fertilization. These results highlight the potential for a paternal influence on larval quality through female mate choice and sperm competition.

Multiple paternity and maintenance of genetic diversity in the live-bearing rockfishes Sebastes spp.

“…Interestingly, Gilbert-Horvath et al (2006) found no evidence for genetic heterogeneity between individual recruitment pulses of young-of-theyear and adult populations of kelp rockfish Sebastes atrovirens, a species shown in the present study and that of Sogard et al (2008) to practice multiple paternity. The authors suggest this as evidence that sweepstakes recruitment does not occur in this species; however, this lack of heterogeneity could also be due to the increased genetic diversity of multiply sired broods.…”

Mate selection in captive-breeding rockfishes Sebastes spp.: inference from parentage analysis and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

“…No evidence of multiple paternity was found in broods from quillback rockfish. Multiple paternity has been described in 13 of 21 rockfish species examined to date (Yoshida et al 2001, Hyde et al 2008, Sogard et al 2008, Van Doornik et al 2008, Blanco Gonzalez et al 2009, and seems to be common in the genus. Considering the close relationship of copper and quillback rockfishes (Hyde & Vetter 2007), the absence of evidence of multiple paternity in quillback rockfish in the present study may be a consequence of low sample size, rather than evidence that it does not occur.…”

“…Such a strategy may improve the genetic diversity of offspring from a single female, thereby improving the odds that some fraction of her larvae encounter favorable environmental conditions and survive (Cushing 1990, Hyde et al 2008, Van Doornik et al 2008. Another potential benefit of multiple mating for individual females is the potential reduction in the probability of incomplete fertilization of eggs in a brood (Gunderson 1977, Sogard et al 2008. As a consequence of the benefits to individual females, the population may benefit from reduced inbreeding depression, and an increase in the effective population size (N E ; Hyde et al 2008).…”

“…Ultimately, the decision whether or not to mate appears to lie with the female (Hyde et al 2008). Multiple mating, with up to 4 different fathers, has been demonstrated in 13 different rockfish species to date, and may be a common bethedging strategy in the genus when mate selection criteria are uncertain or incomplete (Yasui 2001, Hyde et al 2008, Sogard et al 2008, Van Doornik et al 2008, Blanco Gonzalez et al 2009). As consequences of selective mate choice by females and multiple paternity, a population of organisms that experiences sweepstakes recruitment, such as rockfishes, may experience enhanced genetic diversity and avoid the loss of rare alleles, may see diminished impacts of inbreeding depression, and may benefit from increased effective population size (Hedgecock 1994).…”

Paternity testing of wild black rockfish Sebastes inermis (brownish type) from the Seto Inland Sea of Japan

“…Yoshida et al (2001) confirmed multiple paternity in Sebastes schlegeli among 24 candidates (12 females and 12 males) held in the laboratory. Multiple paternity was also evident for wild captive Sebastes atrovirens using seven polymorphic microsatellite loci (Sogard et al 2008). In contrast, Ng et al (2003) concluded that single paternity was common in Sebastiscus marmoratus tested using DNA fingerprinting of the pooled brood DNA from 32 broods, while promiscuity has been confirmed by underwater observations (Fujita and Kohda 1996).…”