Determining parentage and the effects of relatedness on play partner preference in Belding's ground squirrels

<p>I investigated 1) multiple paternity in Belding’s ground squirrels (<em>Urocitellus beldingi</em>) and 2) social partner preferences in juvenile <em>U. beldingi</em>. Prior work with blood allozymes demonstrated multiple paternity in <em>U. beldingi</em> litters. I evaluated paternity using microsatellite DNA analysis, which is more accurate than examining blood allozymes. My results indicate that multiple paternity in <em>U. beldingi</em> is more extensive than previously shown, occurring in about 90% of litters with more than one juvenile, and averaging 2.95 fathers in multiply sired litters. I also evaluated the hypothesis that play and other social behavior promotes bonding among juvenile female <em>U. beldingi</em>. All male <em>U. beldingi</em> emigrate from the natal area before reproducing, whereas most females remain in their natal areas throughout their lives and act cooperatively with close female relatives. Thus, it may be important for young females to establish bonds with sisters, and especially full sisters since kin selection favors cooperation with full sisters over half-sisters. However, my data did not support this hypothesis. Juvenile females demonstrated no preference for interacting with full versus half-sisters in play or other social behaviors. By contrast, juvenile male <em>U. beldingi</em> played and affiliated with full brothers for longer durations than they did with half-brothers. This result suggests that social behavior based on relatedness is important for juvenile male <em>U. beldingi</em>; however, how preferential interaction with full brothers might be important is not yet clear.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Weidenbach, Jessica

Contributors dc:contributor

• Scott Nunes
• Jennifer Dever
• Mary Jane Niles

• Belding's ground squirrels
• play partner preference
• microsatellite analysis
• multiple paternity
• parentage
• social bonding
• Behavior and Ethology
• Biology
• Genetics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/thes/73

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:thes-1080