Dataset Information

Social and genetic interactions drive fitness variation in a free-living dolphin population.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary forces that drive fitness variation in species are of considerable interest. Despite this, the relative importance and interactions of genetic and social factors involved in the evolution of fitness traits in wild mammalian populations are largely unknown. To date, a few studies have demonstrated that fitness might be influenced by either social factors or genes in natural populations, but none have explored how the combined effect of social and genetic parameters might interact to influence fitness. Drawing from a long-term study of wild bottlenose dolphins in the eastern gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia, we present a unique approach to understanding these interactions. Our study shows that female calving success depends on both genetic inheritance and social bonds. Moreover, we demonstrate that interactions between social and genetic factors also influence female fitness. Therefore, our study represents a major methodological advance, and provides critical insights into the interplay of genetic and social parameters of fitness.

SUBMITTER: Frere CH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2993384 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Social and genetic interactions drive fitness variation in a free-living dolphin population.

Frère Celine H CH Krützen Michael M Mann Janet J Connor Richard C RC Bejder Lars L Sherwin William B WB

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20101101 46

The evolutionary forces that drive fitness variation in species are of considerable interest. Despite this, the relative importance and interactions of genetic and social factors involved in the evolution of fitness traits in wild mammalian populations are largely unknown. To date, a few studies have demonstrated that fitness might be influenced by either social factors or genes in natural populations, but none have explored how the combined effect of social and genetic parameters might interact ...[more]

PMID: 21041638

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Dataset Information

Social and genetic interactions drive fitness variation in a free-living dolphin population.

Publications

Social and genetic interactions drive fitness variation in a free-living dolphin population.

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