Premium
The rate of fertilization in male mating tactics of the polygynous grey seal
Author(s) -
LIDGARD D. C.,
BONESS D. J.,
BOWEN W. D.,
McMILLAN J. I.,
FLEISCHER R. C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02334.x
Subject(s) - biology , polygyny , mating , human fertilization , seal (emblem) , fur seal , zoology , mating system , ecology , demography , anatomy , population , art , sociology , visual arts
Studies using molecular markers have shown that some grey seal males may be gaining success through exhibiting alternative mating tactics. We estimated the probability of fertilization success of grey seal males exhibiting the primary tactic of female defence and one alternative tactic of mating with departing females on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, during the breeding seasons of 1997–2002. Although the fertilization rate of the primary tactic (27–43%) was greater than that of the alternative tactic (10–12%), these low rates indicate the potential fitness value of alternative mating tactics in this size‐dimorphic pinniped species.