| Literature DB >> 20808931 |
Leah R Gerber1, Manuela González-Suárez, Claudia J Hernández-Camacho, Julie K Young, John L Sabo.
Abstract
In polygynous mating systems, males often increase their fecundity via aggressive defense of mates and/or resources necessary for successful mating. Here we show that both male and female reproductive behavior during the breeding season (June-August) affect female fecundity, a vital rate that is an important determinant of population growth rate and viability. By using 4 years of data on behavior and demography of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), we found that male behavior and spatial dynamics--aggression and territory size--are significantly related to female fecundity. Higher rates of male aggression and larger territory sizes were associated with lower estimates of female fecundity within the same year. Female aggression was significantly and positively related to fecundity both within the same year as the behavior was measured and in the following year. These results indicate that while male aggression and defense of territories may increase male fecundity, such interactions may cause a reduction in the overall population growth rate by lowering female fecundity. Females may attempt to offset male-related reductions in female fecundity by increasing their own aggression-perhaps to defend pups from incidental injury or mortality. Thus in polygynous mating systems, male aggression may increase male fitness at the cost of female fitness and overall population viability.Entities:
Mesh:
Year: 2010 PMID: 20808931 PMCID: PMC2923196 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012230
Source DB: PubMed Journal: PLoS One ISSN: 1932-6203 Impact factor: 3.240
Pearson correlation among seven behavioral and spatial variables recorded at six California sea lion breeding colonies in the Gulf of California.
| Variables |
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| 0.082 | |||||
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| 0.149 | 0.065 | ||||
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| −0.001 | −0.030 | 0.024 | |||
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| −0.255 | −0.323 | −0.315 | 0.182 | ||
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| 0.052 | −0.262 | −0.215 | −0.187 | 0.270 | |
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| −0.003 | −0.003 | −0.128 | 0.078 | 0.013 | 0.428 |
*Significant correlation, P = 0.0003.
F = Female aggression, M = Male aggression, N = Female nursing, T = Male Territory size, P = Male patrolling, D = Distance to nearest neighbor (among territorial males), NF = number of females in territory. Descriptions are provided in Table S4.
Top candidate models explaining fecundity in California sea lions.
| Model |
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| Variable weights | AICC | ||||||
| Intercept |
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| 0.254 | − | 25.3 |
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| 1.178 | – | 0.044 | −0.177 | – | – | – | 0.120 | 0.065 | − | 25.8 |
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| 0.794 | – | – | – | – | 0.612 | – | 0.103 | 0.026 | 0.27 | 26.1 |
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| 1.275 | – | – | – | – | – | −0.001 | 0.080 | 0.024 |
| 26.6 |
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| 1.180 | −0.023 | – | – | – | – | – | 0.073 | 0.021 | 0.297 | 26.8 |
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| 1.139 | – | – | – | −0.477 | – | – | 0.046 | 0.014 | 0.173 | 27.7 |
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| 1.210 | −0.025 | 0.048 | −0.167 | – | – | – | 0.046 | 0.103 | − | 27.7 |
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| 1.095 | – | 0.004 | – | – | – | – | 0.044 | 0.014 |
| 27.8 |
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| 1.129 | – | – | −0.007 | – | – | – | 0.044 | 0.014 |
| 27.8 |
Parameter estimates, Akaike weights (w i), and estimate of model fit (R) for the top 9 candidate models explaining fecundity (i.e., the same year behavior was measured). We include all models with ΔAICC<3 here so that we can calculate variable weights for all six variables considered (see Table 3). Weights for coefficients included in the model with the most AIC support and estimates for these coefficients are in bold.
F = Female aggression, M = Male aggression, T = Male Territory size, P = Male patrolling, D = Distance to nearest neighbor (among territorial males), N = Female nursing behavior. Descriptions are provided in Table S4.
Variable weights are the sum of weights of all models in the set considered containing that variable. * Indicates models with strong support (e.g., with ΔAICC<2).
Parameter estimates for the best candidate models predicting fecundity (the same year behaviors were measured) and prospective fecundity (the year following behavioral observations) in California sea lions.
| Parameter | Estimate | Se | Weighted Estimate |
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| Fecundity the same year behavior was measured | ||||||
| Intercept | 1.277 | 0.156 | 1.146 | – | – | – |
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| 0.074 | 0.020 | 0.027 | 13.020 | 1, 21.3 | 0.002 |
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| −0.170 | 0.038 | −0.078 | 21.080 | 1, 16.8 | 0.000 |
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| −0.001 | 0.0004 | 0.0002 | 5.750 | 1, 20.8 | 0.026 |
| Prospective fecundity: fecundity the next year behavior was measured | ||||||
| Intercept | 0.356 | 0.236 | – | – | – | – |
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| 0.105 | 0.038 | – | 7.54 | 1, 11.6 | 0.018 |
F = Female aggression, M = Male aggression, T = Male Territory size.
Estimates of parameters from candidate models with highest support (highest Akaike weight).
Weighted estimates are calculated as in Burnham and Anderson [66].
Figure 1Univariate relationships between the six candidate behavioral variables and fecundity (e.g., female fecundity the same year behaviors were observed).
Fitted lines are significant where present.
Figure 2Univariate relationships between the six candidate behavioral variables and prospective fecundity (e.g., female fecundity the year after behaviors were observed).
Fitted lines are significant where present.
Figure 3Study sites in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
Numbers indicate the six islands where observations were conducted: (1) San Jorge, (2) Los Lobos, (3) Granito, (4) San Esteban, (5) Los Islotes, and (6) Farallon de San Ignacio.