Paternity and Genetic Heterogeneity in the Polygynous Bat, Phyllostomus hastatus.

Wild colonies of greater spearnose bats were marked, censused regularly, and genotyped at three polymorphic allozyme loci. While adult composition of social units is very stable and strong polygyny results in marked changes in gene frequencies between generations, dispersal of offspring is sufficient to prevent significant genetic heterogeneities between social units. Kin selection cannot explain social cohesiveness in these highly social mammals.