| Abstract: | Promiscuous systems where both males and females mate several times with different individuals are widespread among mammalian species. As a consequence, females obtain sperm from more than one male and paternity is decided by sperm competition. In theory, females might gain ‘genetic benefits’ for their offspring from this mechanism. In a mating experiment we now demonstrate in the promiscuous rodent Galea musteloides that females which were paired with four males, and became pregnant, weaned more surviving offspring than females which were paired with a single male. Litter sizes did not differ between the two groups. The data support the hypothesis that promiscuous females copulate with several males to induce sperm competition and/or to enforce cryptic female choice and thereby increase the viability of their offspring. |
