Do female grey seals select genetically diverse mates

摘要: Like most mammals, grey seals, Halichoerus grypus, are thought to be polygynous. However, genetic analysis reveals that as few 1% of males gain reproductive success is significantly above average. At the same time there appear more full siblings than can accounted for by chance, implying some level partner fidelity. We used an enlarged data set show that, on average, maternal half-siblings who have different fathers diverse expected from random mating. This unexpected pattern too strong influxes other breeding colonies and hence implies female choice diversity. argue behavioural mate unlikely explanation speculate naturally occurring antisperm antibodies could modulate sperm competition through weak immunointolerance previous partners. Whatever mechanism, partners will tend increase local effective population size. a simple model such strategy favoured at individual in small closed or semiclosed populations long-lived species where polygyny would lead rapid inbreeding.