Socio-genetic structure and mating system of a wild boar population

Wild boars Sus scrofa have a social organization based on female groups that can include several generations of adults and offspring, and are thus likely matrilineal. However, little is known about the degree of relatedness between animals living in such groups or occupying the same core area of spa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of zoology 2009-06, Vol.278 (2), p.116-125
Main Authors: Poteaux, C, Baubet, E, Kaminski, G, Brandt, S, Dobson, F.S, Baudoin, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animal biology
Animal populations
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and Ecology
Correlation analysis
Environmental Sciences
genetic structure
Genetics
Genotype & phenotype
Hogs
Life Sciences
matrilines
polygyny
Populations and Evolution
social organization
social structure
Sus scrofa
Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy
wild boar
wild boars
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Summary:Wild boars Sus scrofa have a social organization based on female groups that can include several generations of adults and offspring, and are thus likely matrilineal. However, little is known about the degree of relatedness between animals living in such groups or occupying the same core area of spatial activity. Also, polygynous male mating combined with matrilineal female groups can have strong influences on the genetic structure of populations. We used microsatellite genotyping combined with behavioral data to investigate the fine-scale population genetic structure and the mating system of wild boars in a multi-year study at Châteauvillain-Arc-en-Barrois (France). According to spatial genetic autocorrelation, females in spatial proximity were significantly inter-related. However, we found that numerous males contributed to the next generation, even within the same social group. Based on our genetic data and behavioral observations, wild boars in this population appear to have a low level of polygyny associated with matrilineal female groups, and infrequent multiple paternity. Mortality due to hunting may facilitate the breakup of what historically has been a more predominantly polygynous mating system, and likely accelerates the turnover of adults within the matrilineal groups.
ISSN:0952-8369
0022-5460
1469-7998
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00553.x