Does Breeding Ornamentation Signal Genetic Quality in Arctic charr, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus alpinus</Emphasis>? |
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Authors: | Matti Janhunen Nina Peuhkuri Craig R Primmer Irma Kolari Jorma Piironen |
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Institution: | (1) Joensuu Game and Fisheries Research, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Yliopistokatu 6, 80100 Joensuu, Finland;(2) Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Viikinkaari 4, P.O. Box 2, 00791 Helsinki, Finland;(3) Division of Genetics and Physiology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland;(4) Saimaa Fisheries Research and Aquaculture, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Laasalantie 9, 58175 Enonkoski, Finland |
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Abstract: | Genetic theories of sexual selection predict that most ornamental secondary sexual traits provide reliable indication of the
genetic quality of their bearers. Accordingly, also the offspring of mates with elaborate mating display should perform better
than those of less conspicuous counterparts. In this study, we used Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) as a model species to investigate whether the variation in a carotenoid-based red breeding coloration (a sexually dichromatic
trait) in different sexes would reflect differences in individual genetic variability, one measure of individual quality,
and/or indirectly, be manifested in variation in the offspring’s early viability and growth. We created maternal half-sibling
families by artificially fertilizing the eggs with milt from bright- and pale-coloured males and then held the resulting progenies
under identical hatchery conditions. The expression of red coloration among parental fish was not associated with their genetic
diversity estimates in either sex nor did offspring sired by bright males consistently differ in terms of embryo survival
or endogenous growth efficiency from offspring sired by pale males. By contrast, maternal effects were notably strong and,
additionally, the degree of female coloration was negatively linked to their reproductive potential. The more intensely coloured
females had a smaller relative fecundity and they also produced offspring of lower viability, implying a significant trade-off
in resource allocation between ornamentation and offspring. Our results indicate that the red breeding ornamentation of Arctic
charr is likely to be informative rather among females than males when the reproductive quality is predicted on grounds of
the number of offspring produced. Nevertheless, this study does not support the direct selection hypothesis in explaining
the evolution of female ornamentation, but rather suggests that the less intense coloration of female charr compared to males
may reflect inter-sexual differences in the trade-off between natural and sexual selection. |
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