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Australian Journal of Zoology Australian Journal of Zoology Society
Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 54(5)

Genetic similarity, not male size, influences female mate choice in the agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis)

Marissa L. Parrott A B , Simon J. Ward A and Peter D. Temple-Smith A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: marissa@unimelb.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 54(5) 319-323 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO06030
Submitted: 7 April 2006  Accepted: 8 September 2006   Published: 16 November 2006

Abstract

Our research investigates the effects of genetic relatedness between mates and male size on female mate choice in the agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis). Females were provided with a simultaneous choice between one large and one small male, with a minimum 5 g (~20% of male weight) difference between males, in specially designed mate-choice enclosures. Genetic relatedness between males and females was determined using highly polymorphic, species-specific, microsatellite markers. Male size did not influence mate choice, with approximately equal numbers of large and small males chosen. Females chose males that were more genetically dissimilar to themselves significantly more times and showed significantly more sexual and non-exploratory behaviours near the genetically dissimilar males. The results show that, when free female mate choice is possible, female agile antechinus choose males on the basis of genetic relatedness, rather than male size.


Acknowledgments

This research was generously funded by a Melbourne Research Ph.D. Scholarship and grants from the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment and Winifred Violet Scott Estate, a Loftus-Hills Memorial Fund Award and David Hay Postgraduate Writing-up Award to M. Parrott. We thank Lynne Selwood, Lee Drickamer and an anonymous referee for their valuable comments on the manuscript and Andrea Taylor, Sam Banks and Nicole DeRyck for assistance with genetic analyses. This research was carried out with ethics approval from the Animal Ethics Sub-Committee at the University of Melbourne and under a Department of Sustainability and Environment Wildlife permit.


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