Presentation Details
Benefits of polyandry in the marbled salamander, Amybstoma opacum: insights from parentage analysis

Rebecca E Hale1, David Scott2, Stacey L Lance2, Todd Pierson3.

1University of North Carolina Asheville, Asheville, NC, USA.2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA.3Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA

Abstract


Females may benefit from mating with multiple males, even in the absence of direct benefits. For example, fertilizations may be sperm-limited such that multiple matings are necessary to ensure all eggs are fertilized. Females may also benefit by increasing genetic diversity among their offspring. Further, multiple-mating may result when females seek the highest quality mate, and mate with multiple males only as a by-product of sequentially searching for higher quality mates. Using genetic parentage analyses, we attempt to tease apart these hypotheses in the marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum). Male Ambystoma do not provide parental care and although they deposit spermatophores, there is no evidence that these provide material benefits. Females can mate with multiple males before locating a nest site and depositing embryos. We tested each of the hypotheses in an enclosure study in which females had the opportunity to mate with 1, 2, or 4 males. Using RADcap, we quantified the extent of polyandry and the paternity skew among fathers within nests using RADcap. Here, we report on the preliminary results of this study.

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