Year: 2007
Type: article
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: Question: How well are genetic benefits hypotheses for extra-pair paternity supported by empirical evidence?\nData incorporated: Almost all published studies testing for genetic benefits from 1980 onwards (121 papers, 55 species).\nAnalysis methods: Collected key features and findings of each study in a database. Determined overall level of support for both good genes and compatible genes hypotheses. Conducted a formal meta-analysis on a subset of studies asking the following questions: (1) Do extra-pair mates of females have different phenotypes than their within-pair mates? (2) Do extra-pair offspring differ in viability from within-pair offspring? (3) Is there a correlation between the genetic similarity of a social pair and the incidence of extra-pair paternity?\nResults: Both the good genes and compatible genes hypotheses failed to be supported in more than half of the species studied. The meta-analysis shows that extra-pair males are on average larger and older than within-pair males, but not different in terms of secondary sexual traits, condition or relatedness to the female. No difference was found between extra-pair and within-pair young in survival to the next breeding season. We found no significant correlation between pair genetic similarity and extra-pair paternity.\nConclusions: Genetic benefits are not strongly supported by available empirical data. New hypotheses are needed.
Authors: Erol Akçay, Joan Roughgarden
Institutions: Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2153095529