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Mating system of the badger in a high density
population
Journal
Molecular Ecology,
Volume 14,Number 1, January 2005, pp. 273-284(12)
Blackwell Publishing
Authors
PETRA J. CARPENTER; LISA C.
POPE; CAROLYN GREIG; DEBORAH A. DAWSON; LUCY M.
ROGERS; KRISTIEN ERVEN; GAVIN J. WILSON;
RICHARD J. DELAHAY; CHRIS L. CHEESEMAN; TERRY BURKE
Abstract
Badgers are facultatively social, forming large groups
at high density. Group-living appears to have high reproductive costs
for females, and may lead to increased levels of inbreeding. The extent
of female competition for reproduction has been estimated from field
data, but knowledge of male reproductive success and the extent of
extra-group paternity remains limited. Combining field data with genetic
data (16 microsatellite loci), we studied the mating system of 10 badger
social groups across 14years in a high-density population. From 923
badgers, including 425 cubs, we were able to assign maternity to 307
cubs, with both parents assigned to 199 cubs (47%) with 80% confidence,
and 14% with 95% confidence. Age had a significant effect on the
probability of reproduction, seemingly as a result of a deficit of
individuals aged two years and greater than eight years attaining
parentage. We estimate that approximately 30% of the female population
successfully reproduced in any given year, with a similar proportion of
the male population gaining paternity across the same area. While it was
known there was a cost to female reproduction in high density
populations, it appears that males suffer similar, but not greater,
costs. Roughly half of assigned paternity was attributed to extra-group
males, the majority of which were from neighbouring social groups. Few
successful matings occurred between individuals born in the same social
group (22%). The high rate of extra-group mating, previously
unquantified, may help reduce inbreeding, potentially making philopatry
a less costly strategy.
Keywords
badger; DNA profile; mating systems; Meles;
microsatellite; Mustelidae
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