On some genetic consequences of social structure, mating systems, dispersal, and sampling.

ABSTRACT: Many species are spatially and socially organized, with complex social organizations and dispersal patterns that are increasingly documented. Social species typically consist of small age-structured units, where a limited number of individuals monopolize reproduction and exhibit complex mating strategies. Here, we model social groups as age-structured units and investigate the genetic consequences of social structure under distinct mating strategies commonly found in mammals. Our results show that sociality maximizes genotypic diversity, which contradicts the belief that social groups are necessarily subject to strong genetic drift and at high risk of inbreeding depression. Social structure generates an excess of genotypic diversity. This is commonly observed in ecological studies but rare

SUBMITTER: Parreira BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4491764 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature