Premium
AGE‐SPECIFIC REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS: EVIDENCE FOR THE SELECTION HYPOTHESIS
Author(s) -
Mauck R. A.,
Huntington C. E.,
Grubb T. C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2004.tb00419.x
Subject(s) - biology , longevity , reproductive success , selection (genetic algorithm) , population , reproductive value , productivity , demography , evolutionary biology , ecology , genetics , offspring , pregnancy , macroeconomics , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , economics
—Age‐specific reproductive success has been demonstrated in many species. Three hypotheses have been raised to explain this general phenomenon: the experience hypothesis based on age‐specific reproductive experience, the effort hypothesis based on age‐specific reproductive effort, and the selection hypothesis based on progressive disappearance of phenotypes due to variation in individual productivity and survival. We used data from a long‐term study of Leach's storm‐petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) to present a single test of mutually exclusive predictions about the relationship between early breeding success and longevity. There should be no correlation between early breeding success and longevity under the experience hypothesis, a negative correlation under the effort hypothesis, and a positive correlation under the selection hypothesis. We found a significant ( P < 0.0001) positive relationship between success in the first two breeding attempts and longevity in this population of long‐lived seabirds, strongly suggesting that low‐productivity parents were also less likely to survive early breeding. These data provide some of the strongest support to date for the selection hypothesis.