Date of Award
2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Biology
Supervisor
Dr. Elizabeth MacDougall-Shackleton
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary forces that maintain genetic diversity in natural populations is a major goal in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. I investigated the relationships between individual genetic diversity and pairwise genetic similarity (as measured by 17 microsatellite loci), mating strategies, parental investment, and overwinter survivorship, in song sparrows Melospiza melodia. Genetic similarity of socially mated pairs was not significantly different from random expectations, but females were more likely to produce extra-pair offspring when their social mate was genetically similar. Highly heterozygous males fed their nestlings significantly more often than did their less diverse counterparts, although this pattern was not observed in females. Interestingly, the high parental investment by genetically diverse males may come at a cost, as I discovered a highly significant negative relationship between male heterozygosity and overwinter survivorship. Collectively these findings suggest that trade-offs between current and future reproductive investment may temper the fitness advantages of genetic diversity.
Recommended Citation
Kewin, Jenna M., "Genetic Diversity, Fitness and Mating Behaviour in Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) (" (2009). Digitized Theses. 3917.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/3917