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D Aurelle,
A J Baker,
L Bottin,
C Brouat,
A Caccone,
A Chaix,
P Dhakal,
Y Ding,
J M Duplantier,
W Fiedler, [......],
Y Tian,
J Tomiuk,
R N Trigiano,
M C Ungerer,
A Van Wormhoudt,
P A Wadl,
D-Q Wang,
T Weis-Dootz,
Q Xia,
Q-Y Yuan
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ABSTRACT: This article documents the addition of 228 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Anser cygnoides, Apodemus flavicollis, Athene noctua, Cercis canadensis, Glis glis, Gubernatrix cristata, Haliotis tuberculata, Helianthus maximiliani, Laricobius nigrinus, Laricobius rubidus, Neoheligmonella granjoni, Nephrops norvegicus, Oenanthe javanica, Paramuricea clavata, Pyrrhura orcesi and Samanea saman. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Apodemus sylvaticus, Laricobius laticollis and Laricobius osakensis (a proposed new species currently being described).
Molecular Ecology Resources 07/2010; 10(4):751-754. · 3.06 Impact Factor
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D Aurelle,
A J Baker,
L Bottin,
C Brouat,
A Caccone,
A Chaix,
P Dhakal,
Y Ding,
J M Duplantier,
W Fiedler, [......],
R Taubert,
Y Tian,
J Tomiuk,
R N Trigiano,
M C Ungerer,
A V An Wormhoudt,
P A Wadl,
D.-Q Wang,
T Weis-Dootz,
Q Xia
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ABSTRACT: Current discussions in evolutionary ecology and conservation genetics focus on the relative importance of using selective neutral markers or markers of coding genes to identify adaptive and evolutionary relevant processes. Genetic diversity might be particularly important in immune genes (e.g., in genes of the major histocompatibility complex, MHC), which are influencing pathogen and parasite resistance. We investigated the effects of neutral versus adaptive genetic variation in parasite resistance in a natural population of fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius). No association between neutral overall individual genetic diversity and parasite load could be detected. In 149 individuals, we identified 50 MHC class II alleles of the functionally important duplicated DRB locus. The investigation of the functional importance of immune gene (MHC) diversity and parasite selection in natural populations is often problematic due to extensive polymorphism in the MHC genes and restrictions in available sample sizes. Here, for the first time we applied an approach that has been developed in human medical studies. Eleven MHC class II supertypes were identified based on shared antigen-binding similarities. The number of individual MHC supertypes had no influence on the nematode burden. However, we found evidence for a specific MHC supertype (supertype 1) that was linked to infected individuals, a higher number of different nematode infections and high intensity of infection per individual. Moreover, one rare MHC supertype (supertype 7) was revealed to be advantageous with respect to parasite burden. Thus, our results add evidence to the small body of studies that show significant associations between specific MHC constitutions and naturally occurring parasites in the complexity of natural populations.
Heredity 10/2007; 99(3):265-77. · 4.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Genetic heterogeneity is considered an important parameter for individual fitness and reproductive success. In 1999 and 2000, we studied the population genetics of great tit (Parus major L., 1758) in southwestern Germany from two different forest types (deciduous and mixed-coniferous), which may significantly differ in prey diversity and/or food supply. Adults of 99 families were genotyped at four enzyme and eight microsatellite loci, in order to estimate individual heterozygosity. In the mixed-coniferous forest, a significant positive correlation between the genetic heterogeneity of females and early egg-laying date and clutch size was detected. Early egg-laying date and increased clutch size are conditions that positively affect the number of fledglings. This effect of individual heterozygosity was not observed in the deciduous woodland. Maternal genetic heterogeneity, however, did not correlate with fledgling condition, and individual heterozygosity of fathers had no impact on breeding success in either habitat. The positive effect of female genetic heterogeneity on brood size of great tits in mixed-coniferous forests is attributed to early egg-laying date, i.e. a maternal effect, rather than to a specific mating strategy that optimizes fitness through an increased brood size and the quality of offspring.ZusammenfassungIndividuelle Fitness und reproduktiver Erfolg werden oftmals in einem engen Zusammenhang mit genetischer Heterogenität gesehen. In den Jahren 1999 and 2000 untersuchten wir Kohlmeisenpopulationen (Parus major L., 1758) in süddeutschen Laub- und Nadelmischwäldern. Beide Waldformen können sich bzgl. der Futterdiversität und Futterverfügbarkeit stark unterscheiden. Die Alttiere von 99 Familien wurden für vier Enzym- und acht Mikrosatellitenloci genotypisiert, um die individuelle Heterozygotie abzuschätzen. Im Nadelmischwald fand sich eine signifikante positive Korrelation zwischen der individuellen Heterozygotie der Weibchen und Legedatum sowie Gelegegröße. Ein frühes Legedatum und ein größeres Gelege haben einen positiven Effekt auf die Anzahl von Jungtieren. Ein solcher Effekt konnte im Laubwald allerdings nicht beobachtet werden. Weiterhin bestand kein Zusammenhang zwischen maternaler genetischen Heterogenität und der Masse der Jungtiere, ebenso hatte die väterliche genetische Heterogenität in beiden Waldformen keinen signifikanten Einfluß auf den Bruterfolg. Der positive Effekt mütterlicher genetischer Heterogenität auf die Zahl der Nachkommen von Kohlmeisen im Nadelmischwald steht in engem Zusammenhang mit dem Legedatum, d.h. ein maternaler Effekt erklärt eher die beobachteten Zusammenhänge als eine spezifische Paarungsstrategie, die sich entwickelte und zur Fitnessoptimierung führte.
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 04/2007; 45(2):144 - 150. · 1.95 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Large-scale comparisons might reveal matching between fruit traits and frugivore assemblages that might be cryptic on a local scale. Therefore, we compared morphological (colour, size, husk thickness) and chemical fruit traits (protein, nitrogen, sugar, lipid, tannin and fibre content) between Malagasy and South African tree communities with different frugivore communities. In Madagascar, where lemurs are important seed dispersers, we found more tree species with fruit colour classified as "primate fruits". In contrast, in South Africa we found more tree species with fruits classified as "bird coloured". This correlated with the greater importance of frugivorous birds in South Africa vs. Madagascar. Additionally, we found higher sugar concentrations in fruits from the South African tree community and higher fibre content in fruits from the Malagasy tree community. However, fibre content could be related to differences in abiotic conditions between the two study sites. This suggests that fruit colour more than other morphological and chemical fruit traits, reflects food selection by the different frugivore assemblages of those two sites.
Oecologia 10/2004; 141(1):94-104. · 3.41 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In temperate species, hibernation is enhanced by high levels of essential fatty acids in white adipose tissue. Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized by mammals, thus nutritional ecology should play a key role in physiological adaptations to hibernation. Tropical hibernators are exposed to different physiological demands than hibernators in temperate regions and are expected to be subject to different constraints. The aims of this study were to assess whether or not the tropical hibernator Cheirogaleus medius shows biochemical changes in its white adipose tissue before and during hibernation. A capture-recapture study was combined with feeding observations in western Madagascar. Before and after hibernation, 77 samples of white adipose tissue from 57 individuals of C. medius, as well as dietary items eaten during pre-hibernation fattening, were sampled and analyzed for their fatty acid composition. In contrast to temperate hibernators, C. medius exhibits extremely low essential fatty acid concentrations in its white adipose tissue (2.5%) prior to hibernation. The fatty acid pattern of the white adipose tissue did not change during pre-hibernation fattening and did not reflect dietary fatty acid composition. During hibernation, fat stores showed only minor but significant compositional changes. Because of its prevalence, the main fuel during hibernation was the monounsaturated oleic acid, which seemed to be preferentially synthesized from dietary carbohydrates. Results suggest that essential fatty acids do not represent an ecological limitation for hibernation in the tropics, at least not in the fat-tailed dwarf lemur.
Journal of Comparative Physiology B 03/2003; 173(1):1-10. · 1.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cheirogaleids are one of the most primitive extant primate taxa in the world. Their lifestyle and mating system, therefore,
have been considered to be representative for social systems in primate ancestors. Accepted models of social evolution in
primates state that pair-bonding has evolved secondarily from diurnal group-living taxa and should therefore be constrained
primarily to diurnal species. In contrast to these assumptions, the nocturnal fat-tailed dwarf lemur (Cheirogaleus medius) lives in permanent pairs, with obligate paternal care probably representing the evolutionary basis of pair-living. In this
sociobiological field study, we analyzed the reproduction strategy of C. medius in the tropical forest of western Madagascar. In the rainy seasons from 1995 to 1999, 173 individuals of C. medius were captured and individually marked and 131 were genetically characterized through seven microsatellite loci. Additionally,
36 of these individuals were radio-tracked and observed. For 53 genotyped individuals, including 16 offspring, information
about pair-bonding and family structure was known from field observations. Genetic analyses revealed that yearlings and infants
living with an adult pair were in all cases sibs of the social mother. However, C. medius does not restrain from extra-pair copulations (EPCs) and a high rate of extra-pair paternity (44%) was detected. Males sired
offspring with their female partners as well as with extra-pair females within the same year, indicating that males may increase
their reproductive success by EPCs without necessarily running the risk of cuckoldry. Females on the other hand do not seem
to run the risk of reduced paternal care, either because males cannot detect relatedness of young, or because they might even
increase their inclusive fitness by raising offspring of closely related males. Since females reproduce preferentially with
territory holders and no paternity could be assigned to floating males, superior genetic quality of the males might be crucial
for female choice.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 01/2000; 49(1):8-17. · 3.18 Impact Factor
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J Fietz
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ABSTRACT: Microcebus murinus, a small nocturnal lemur from Madagascar, has retained features of ancient primates. Based on these ancestral traits, its social organization has often been used as a model for early primate social systems. In captivity it breeds polygynously, i.e., one male mates with several females, while females usually copulate only with the dominant male. The present project tested whether or not sexual size dimorphism, spatial distribution, and relative testis size of M. murinus correspond with predictions of the sexual selection theory concerning polygynous mating systems. The study was combined with a mark-recapture study and radio tracking of 12 animals in 1993 in a dry deciduous forest of western Madagascar at the end of the dry season. Large overlapping home ranges in males, lack of sexual size dimorphism, and relatively large testes suggest a multi-male mating system, i.e., one that is promiscuous rather than polygynous.
American Journal of Primatology 02/1999; 48(2):127-33. · 2.22 Impact Factor
