Mating Strategies in Relation to Sexually Selected Infanticide in a Non‐Social Carnivore: the Brown Bear

摘要: Based on the sexually selected infanticide (SSI) hypothesis, can be an adaptive mating strategy for males, but this is has rarely been documented in non-social mammals. This phenomenon should not benefit females, so one would expect females to evolve counter strategies order protect their infants from infanticidal males. Cases of SSI are extremely difficult document field, especially species. Using field observations and genetic methods, we describe employed by both sexes brown bears (Ursus arctos) relation SSI. We present evidence first time suggesting that male carnivore, as all requirements fulfilled (1) shortens mother's next estrus, (2) perpetrator father killed infants, (3) putative perpetrators sire litter. Moreover, cases occurred during season. expected primarily immigrant males were infanticidal, social However, found resident adult commonly committed infanticide. Perhaps they recognize have mated with previously. used DNA-based parentage testing demonstrate a minimum 14.5% multiple paternities (up 28% litters at least three young). Female promiscuity confuse paternity may avoid