Disentangling the mechanisms of mate choice in a captive koala population

• DOI: 10.7287/peerj.preprints.3487v1
• Publication Date: 2017-12-27T08:37:07Z
• Authors: Parice A Brandies; Catherine E Grueber; Jamie A Ivy; Carolyn J Hogg; Professor K Belov
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Mate choice; Animal Behavior; QH301-705.5; R; Captive breeding; 03 medical and health sciences; Male heterozygosity; Major histocompatibility complex (MHC); Medicine; Biology (General); Microsatellites; Genetic compatibility

Successful captive breeding programs are crucial to the long-term survival of threatened species. However, pair incompatibility limits sustainability many populations. Understanding whether drivers this behavioural or genetic, a combination both, is improving programs. We used twenty-eight years pairing data from San Diego Zoo koala colony, plus genetic analyses using both MHC-linked and non-MHC-linked microsatellite markers, show that determinants can influence mating success. Male age was reconfirmed be contributing factor likelihood copulating. Familiarity also increase probability successful copulation. Our provided evidence females select mates based on MHC genome-wide similarity. heterozygosity at class II loci influenced pre- post-copulatory female choice. Genome-wide similarity MHCII DAB locus were found choice level. Finally, certain alleles associated with increased decreased predict utilising variety MHC-dependent mate mechanisms improves fitness through reproductive This study highlights complexity within species importance ascertaining improve success