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Characterization of paternity relationships in the mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi by microsatellite genotyping
Author(s) -
Malik Assaf,
Frenkel Zeev,
Hernandez Alvaro,
Band Mark,
Nevo Eviatar,
Avivi Aaron
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/s10144-011-0264-7
Subject(s) - biology , microsatellite , genotyping , zoology , population , genetics , evolutionary biology , genotype , allele , gene , demography , sociology
Spalax ehrenbergi is a species complex of blind subterranean rodents distributed along the east Mediterranean region. We studied genetic relationships within and between S. ehrenbergi sib families using microsatellite genotyping. The upper‐bound level of multiple‐paternity rate in litters was estimated using a simulation model of breeding process. Our results show that the upper bound of multiple paternity in the studied population of S. ehrenbergi is <30% ( P value 2.9%), with no detected cases of multiple paternity. Our analytical model was specifically designed for a situation in which the sibling identities are known but genetic data about their parents is unavailable. The genetic similarities between groups of individuals were also tested, and it was found that the distance between breeding nests is a factor influencing the genetic similarity between litters found in the nests.