Outbreeding increases offspring survival in wild greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)

The factors influencing the survival of greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) offspring born over seven years at a maternity colony in south-west Britain were studied. The effects of a range of phenotypic and maternal variables were analysed using a historical data set. In addition, the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Biological sciences, 2001-05, Vol.268 (1471), p.1055-1061
Main Authors: Rossiter, S. J., Jones, G., Ransome, R. D., Barratt, E. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Outbred Strains
Animals, Wild
Bats
Breeding
Chiroptera
Chiroptera - genetics
Deer
Female
Genetic loci
Genetic Variation
Heterosis
Horseshoes
Male
Mean
mean d2
Microsatellite
Microsatellites
Models, Genetic
Mortality
Offspring Survival
Outbreeding
Population growth
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
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Summary:The factors influencing the survival of greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) offspring born over seven years at a maternity colony in south-west Britain were studied. The effects of a range of phenotypic and maternal variables were analysed using a historical data set. In addition, the influence of two genetic measures on mortality, individual heterozygosity and a new measure of outbreeding, termed mean d2, was assessed. Logistic regressions were undertaken with survival modelled as a binary response variable. Survival to two life stages was studied for each variable and all models were developed for both sexes separately and together. Only one variable, mean d2, was significantly associated with survival. Male offspring with high mean d2 scores were more likely to survive to their first and second summers. The influence of mean d2 was not due to a single locus under selection but a wider multilocus effect and probably represents heterosis as opposed to solely inbreeding depression. Therefore, the extent to which an individual is outbred may determine survival more than widely used phenotypic characteristics such as size and mass. Mean d2 may reflect immunocompetence, which influences mortality. Protection of mating sites in order to facilitate gene flow and, therefore, outbreeding may help to promote population stability and growth.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2001.1612