Genetic documentation of filial cannibalism in nature

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
J A DeWoodyJ C Avise

Abstract

Cannibalism is widespread in natural populations of fishes, where the stomachs of adults frequently contain conspecific juveniles. Furthermore, field observations suggest that guardian males routinely eat offspring from their own nests. However, recent genetic paternity analyses have shown that fish nests often contain embryos not sired by the nest-tending male (because of cuckoldry events, egg thievery, or nest piracy). Such findings, coupled with the fact that several fish species have known capabilities for distinguishing kin from nonkin, raise the possibility that cannibalism by guardian males is directed primarily or exclusively toward unrelated embryos in their nests. Here, we test this hypothesis by collecting freshly cannibalized embryos from the stomachs of several nest-tending darter and sunfish males in nature and determining their genetic parentage by using polymorphic microsatellite markers. Our molecular results clearly indicate that guardian males do indeed consume their own genetic offspring, even when unrelated (foster) embryos are present within the nest. These data provide genetic documentation of filial cannibalism in nature. Furthermore, they suggest that the phenomenon may result, at least in part, from an...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 26, 2002·Molecular Ecology·W O C Symondson
Oct 25, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Adam G PayneAndrew C Campbell
Sep 18, 2007·The American Naturalist·Sebastien Lion, Minus van Baalen
Apr 19, 2016·Ecology and Evolution·Martin VallonKatja U Heubel
Jan 23, 2008·Molecular Ecology·R A KingW O C Symondson
Oct 25, 2007·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·P Nonacs, K M Kapheim
Aug 30, 2008·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Jonathan P EvansSimon C Griffith
Nov 14, 2002·Annual Review of Genetics·John C AviseJ Andrew DeWoody
Dec 15, 2005·American Journal of Physical Anthropology·Christophe BoeschLinda Vigilant
Jul 21, 2017·Ecology and Evolution·Martin VallonKatja U Heubel

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