Open AccessParental genetic similarity and offspring performance in blue tits in relation to brood size manipulation
Author(s) -
Arct Aneta,
Drobniak Szymon M.,
Mellinger Samantha,
Gustafsson Lars,
Cichoń Mariusz
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.5367
Subject(s) - offspring , brood , biology , genetic similarity , similarity (geometry) , cyanistes , hatching , genetic fitness , zoology , evolutionary biology , ecology , demography , genetics , genetic diversity , parus , biological evolution , artificial intelligence , population , sociology , computer science , image (mathematics) , pregnancy
In birds, as in many other taxa, higher genetic similarity of mates has long been known to reduce offspring fitness. To date, the majority of avian studies have focused on examination whether the genetic similarity of social mates predicts hatching success. Yet, increased genetic similarity of mates may also reduce offspring fitness during later life stages, including the nestling period and beyond. Here, we investigated whether parental genetic similarity influences offspring performance using data from free‐living blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus ) collected across three breeding seasons. Additionally, we tested whether brood size manipulation affects the magnitude and direction of the relationship between genetic similarity of mates and offspring performance. Sixteen microsatellite markers were used to measure genetic similarity between biological parents. We found that the genetic similarity of parents negatively affects offspring immune response and this effect was independent of the experimental brood size manipulation.