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ETD RECORD
Sexual selection and inbreeding in the National Bison Range, Montana, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) population
Citation
Dunn, Stacey Jo.. (2010). Sexual selection and inbreeding in the National Bison Range, Montana, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) population. Theses and Dissertations Collection, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections. https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/etd/items/etd_69.html
- Title:
- Sexual selection and inbreeding in the National Bison Range, Montana, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) population
- Author:
- Dunn, Stacey Jo.
- Date:
- 2010
- Keywords:
- Pronghorn--Montana--National Bison Range--Reproduction
- Program:
- Biology
- Abstract:
- The National Bison Range (NBR), MT, is home to a small, isolated population of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Following the 2003-2004 winter, the population experienced a drought-induced demographic bottleneck. Male survival through the bottleneck was influenced by age, while female survival and fecundity were influenced by prior energy expenditure and genetic variation. Following the bottleneck, I found an increased probability of survival to weaning in non-inbred fawns. Probability of survival increased with larger body size and faster prenatal growth rates. I concluded that larger size allowed fawns to outrun predators earlier than smaller fawns, which increased their chance of survival. I found evidence for genetic inbreeding avoidance: relatedness between mated pairs was lower than relatedness between a female and all adult males. Most, but not all, pronghorn avoided inbreeding: ~14% of matings were between related pairs. I did not find evidence of behavioral inbreeding avoidance in the spatial distribution of females prior to and including early estrus. Females did not avoid harems of related males, nor did they shift to harems of less-related males, in the two weeks prior to their estrus date. However, I did find evidence of behavioral inbreeding avoidance in the late stages of the courtship sequence. The frequency and number of full mounts was higher for unrelated versus related pairs, and females moved through the later courtship stages more quickly if the harem male was unrelated. Finally, I tested the validity of the Shuster and Wade (2003) hypothesis that one can estimate the intensity of sexual selection on males by examining the female spatio-temporal distribution in rut. Because pronghorn practice active mate sampling and choice, female spatio-temporal distribution in harems was not an accurate predictor of male mating success. I concluded that genetic-based pedigrees are still the best way to estimate the intensity of sexual selection in wild populations.
- Description:
- Thesis (Ph. D., Biology)--University of Idaho, December 2010.
- Major Professor:
- John A. Byers.
- Defense Date:
- December 2010.
- Type:
- Text
- Format Original:
- xvi, 185 leaves :ill. ;29 cm.
- Format:
- record
Rights
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- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted. For more information, please contact University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives Department at libspec@uidaho.edu.
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