Factors affecting the reproductive success of dominant male meerkats

Molecular Ecology
G SpongTim H Clutton-Brock

Abstract

Identifying traits that affect the reproductive success of individuals is fundamental for our understanding of evolutionary processes. In cooperative breeders, a dominant male typically restricts mating access to the dominant female for extended periods, resulting in pronounced variation in reproductive success among males. This may result in strong selection for traits that increase the likelihood of dominance acquisition, dominance retention and reproductive rates while dominant. However, despite considerable research on reproductive skew, few studies have explored the factors that influence these three processes among males in cooperative species. Here we use genetic, behavioural and demographic data to investigate the factors affecting reproductive success in dominant male meerkats (Suricata suricatta). Our data show that dominant males sire the majority of all offspring surviving to 1 year. A male's likelihood of becoming dominant is strongly influenced by age, but not by weight. Tenure length and reproductive rate, both important components of dominant male reproductive success, are largely affected by group size and composition, rather than individual traits. Dominant males in large groups have longer tenures, but after ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 2, 2010·Reproduction, Fertility, and Development·Emily J MillerCatherine A Herbert
Jul 9, 2010·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Alex ThorntonTim Clutton-Brock
Jul 20, 2012·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Rafael MaresTim H Clutton-Brock
Oct 7, 2009·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Tim Clutton-Brock
Oct 30, 2013·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Andrew J Young, Nigel C Bennett
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Sep 1, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dominic L CramTim Clutton-Brock
Sep 22, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ben DantzerTim H Clutton-Brock
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Feb 26, 2019·Ecology and Evolution·Constance Dubuc, Tim H Clutton-Brock
Jan 11, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Alexandra M MutwillNorbert Sachser
Feb 18, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Shay Rotics, Tim Clutton-Brock
Sep 17, 2021·Science·Tim Clutton-Brock
Oct 15, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Thomas M HouslayTim H Clutton-Brock

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