The Good‐Genes and Compatible‐Genes Benefits of Mate Choice

Puurtinen, Mikael; Ketola, Tarmo; Kotiaho, Janne S.

doi:10.1086/606024

Cited by 89 publications

(123 citation statements)

References 102 publications

(104 reference statements)

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“…An increasing number of studies suggest that female mate choice is influenced by the genetic characteristics of potential mates (reviewed by [1][2][3]). In particular, studies have focused on two main types of genetic benefits to females: 'good genes' and 'compatible genes'.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

et al. 2012

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Females are thought to gain better-quality genes for their offspring by mating with particular males. Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a critical role in adaptive immunity, and several studies have examined female mate choice in relation to MHC variation. In common yellowthroats, females prefer males that have larger black facial masks, an ornament associated with MHC variation, immune function and condition. Here we also tested whether mating patterns are directly correlated with MHC diversity or similarity. Using pyrosequencing, we found that the presence of extra-pair young in the brood was not related to male MHC diversity or similarity between the female and her within-pair mate. Furthermore, extra-pair sires did not differ in overall diversity from males they cuckolded, or in their similarity to the female. MHC diversity is extremely high in this species, and it may limit the ability of females to assess MHC variation in males. Thus, mating may be based on ornaments, such as mask size, which are better indicators of overall male health and genetic quality.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

et al. 2012

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“…In most polygamous species males can increase reproductive success by increasing the number of mates, and this should deter the evolution of selectivity (Bateman 1948, Andersson 1994. Males can benefit from choice both genetically as well as directly by selecting females with attributes which will increase offspring 9 numbers and survival (Gwynne 1981, Schwagmeyer and Parker 1990, Puurtinen et al 2009, Edward and Chapman 2011.…”

Section: Evolution and Female Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of male-male competition and ornament size on mean and variance of courtship intensity towards heterospecific and conspecific females

et al. 2015

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As species do not live in isolation from each other, they are faced with an elementary choice when searching for a mating partner: a choice between conand heterospecific individuals. Despite the remarkable research effort on hybridization and its avoidance, there are still some less well covered areas, e.g. what is the role of males in hybridization, what patterns are found in sympatric wild populations, what role do alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) have on the likelihood of heterospecific matings, and what are the true costs of heterospecific interactions. In this thesis I first quantify the frequency of hybridization, backcrossing and heterospecific matings in sympatric wild populations of Calopteryx splendens and C. virgo damselflies in Finland. The possible influence of population densities, relative abundances of the species, and operational sex ratios on the frequency of heterospecific matings is also investigated. The second aim is to investigate how the intensity of territorial competition influences males' reproductive response to a heterospecific female. Finally, I dissect the importance of male ARTs on hybridization propensity and I attempt to quantify the reproductive costs that males' hybridization propensity inflicts among the tactics. The results imply a major role for C. splendens males in heterospecific reproductive interactions between the study species. Especially territorial males seem to be prone to hybridization, and the prevalence of hybridization is increased with a high availability of C. virgo females. Hybridization seems to be costly because there was high discordance between heterospecific mating frequency and observed numbers of hybrids. However, heterospecific courtship did not reduce conspecific mating success. The results also show that C. splendens males are able to adjust their level of heterospecific courtship according to the competitive environment as well as to the ART it follows. My thesis is a step towards understanding the causes of species reproductive interactions in wild populations.

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“…Under the good genes hypothesis, females are therefore predicted to allocate paternity toward males with extreme forms of the trait. In contrast, under the compatible genes hypothesis, not all females stand to derive the same benefits from mating with a particular male (Neff and Pitcher, 2005;Puurtinen et al, 2009). Instead, it is the compatibility of male and female genotypes that act, through either heterozygote overdominance or avoidance of the deleterious effects of inbreeding, to produce genetically superior offspring Zeh, 1996, 1997;Jennions, 1997;Tregenza and Wedell, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Theory predicts that good genes and compatible genes benefits are not mutually exclusive and therefore that females should be selected to exploit both types of benefits in mate choice (Colegrave et al, 2002;Neff and Pitcher, 2005;Puurtinen et al, 2005Puurtinen et al, , 2009). Yet few empirical studies have demonstrated simultaneous optimization of both types of benefit (but see Foerster et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Social Structure Facilitates Indirect Fitness Benefits from Extra-Pair Mating

Wells

Gleeson

et al. 2017

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Despite decades of research, empirical support for the "compatible genes" and "good genes" hypotheses as explanations for adaptive female extra-pair mating remains discordant. One largely un-tested theoretical prediction that could explain equivocal findings is that mating for compatible genes benefits should reduce selection for good genes. However, this prediction does not consider demographic parameters, such as social structuring, that can indirectly influence extra-pair paternity (EPP) outcomes. Drawing on evidence from a previous study, we re-evaluate this hypothesis whilst considering social structuring in a population of tui, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, a socially monogamous passerine. Previous research has found possible evidence for mating for good genes because male ornament size correlates with EPP success in this population. Here, we test whether non-random inbreeding of social-pairs indirectly provides the opportunity to gain compatibility benefits from EPP, and thus whether selection for compatible genes and good genes can operate simultaneously. We found that (1) social mates were more closely related than expected through random mating, (2) extra-pair males (EPMs) were less closely related to females than were the females' within-pair mates, and (3) genetically dissimilar males sired offspring with faster growth rates. These results demonstrate that females gain compatible genes benefits from EPP. However, contrary to the compatible genes hypothesis, females in highly-related pairs did not engage more frequently in extra-pair mating. Together with previous research investigating female mate choice in this population, our findings suggest that social pairings between relatives provide a pathway for females to gain compatible genes benefits whilst engaging in extra-pair mating for good genes. This study provides evidence that some fitness benefits from EPP arise automatically through non-random social mating rather than through direct selection on extra-pair mate choice. We argue that when variance in compatibility benefits is an outcome of population structuring, compatible genes benefits need not be gained at the expense of good genes benefits.

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The Good‐Genes and Compatible‐Genes Benefits of Mate Choice

Cited by 89 publications

References 102 publications

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

Social and extra-pair mating in relation to major histocompatibility complex variation in common yellowthroats

The effect of male-male competition and ornament size on mean and variance of courtship intensity towards heterospecific and conspecific females

Population Social Structure Facilitates Indirect Fitness Benefits from Extra-Pair Mating

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