Major histocompatibility complex variation and mate choice in a lekking bird, the great snipe (Gallinago media)

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a major part in the activation of the vertebrate immune system. In addition, they also appear to function as cues for mate choice. In mammals especially, several kinds of MHC‐dependent mate choice have been hypothesized and observed. These inc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular ecology 2004-12, Vol.13 (12), p.3821-3828
Main Authors: EKBLOM, R., SÆTHER, S. A., GRAHN, M., FISKE, P., KÅLÅS, J. A., HÖGLUND, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alleles
Amino Acid Sequence
Animal reproduction
Animals
Aves
Base Sequence
bird
Birds
Charadriiformes - genetics
Charadriiformes - physiology
class IIB
disassortative mating
DNA Primers
Female
Gallinago media
Immune system
lek
major histocompatibility complex
Major Histocompatibility Complex - genetics
Male
mate choice
Molecular Sequence Data
Norway
Parasites
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Vertebrates
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Summary:Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) play a major part in the activation of the vertebrate immune system. In addition, they also appear to function as cues for mate choice. In mammals especially, several kinds of MHC‐dependent mate choice have been hypothesized and observed. These include choice of mates that share no or few alleles with the choosing individual, choice of mates with alleles that differ as much as possible from the choosing individual, choice of heterozygous mates, choice of certain genotypes and choice of rare alleles. We investigated these different aspects of mate choice in relation to MHC in a lekking bird species, the great snipe (Gallinago media). We found no evidence for MHC disassortative mating, no preference for males with many MHC alleles and no preference for rare alleles. However, we did find that some allelic lineages were more often found in males with mating success than in males without mating success. Females do not seem to use themselves as references for the MHC‐dependent mate choice, rather they seem to prefer males with certain allele types. We speculate that these alleles may be linked to resistance to common parasites.
ISSN:0962-1083
1365-294X
1365-294X
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02361.x