Heterozygosity-fitness correlations in a wild mammal population: accounting for parental and environmental effects.

ABSTRACT: HFCs (heterozygosity-fitness correlations) measure the direct relationship between an individual's genetic diversity and fitness. The effects of parental heterozygosity and the environment on HFCs are currently under-researched. We investigated these in a high-density U.K. population of European badgers (Meles meles), using a multimodel capture-mark-recapture framework and 35 microsatellite loci. We detected interannual variation in first-year, but not adult, survival probability. Adult females had higher annual survival probabilities than adult males. Cubs with more heterozygous fathers had higher first-year survival, but only in wetter summers; there was no relationship with individual or maternal heterozygosity. Moist soil conditions enhance badger food supply (earthworms), improving su

SUBMITTER: Annavi G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4203301 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature