Genetic diversity and reproductive success in mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx).

ABSTRACT: Recent studies of wild animal populations have shown that estimators of neutral genetic diversity, such as mean heterozygosity, are often correlated with various fitness traits, such as survival, disease susceptibility, or reproductive success. We used two estimators of genetic diversity to explore the relationship between heterozygosity and reproductive success in male and female mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) living in a semifree ranging setting in Gabon. Because social rank is known to influence reproductive success in both sexes, we also examined the correlation between genetic diversity and social rank in females, and acquisition of alpha status in males, as well as length of alpha male tenure. We found that heterozygous individuals showed greater reproductive success, with both female

SUBMITTER: Charpentier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1283825 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature