| Abstract: | Several vertebrates choose their mate according to genetic heterozygosity and relatedness, and use odour cues to assess their conspecifics‘ genetic make-up. In birds, although several species (including the blacklegged kittiwake) exhibit non-random mating according to genetic traits, the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. The importance of olfaction in birds‘ social behaviour is gaining attention among researchers, and it has been suggested that, as in other vertebrates, bird body scent may convey information about genetic traits. Here, we combined gas chromatography data and genetic analyses at microsatellite loci to test whether semiochemical messages in preen secretion of kittiwakes carried information about genetic heterozygosity and relatedness. Semiochemical profile was correlated with heterozygosity in males and females, while semiochemical distance was correlated with genetic distance only in male-male dyads. Our study is the first to demonstrate a link between odour and genetics in birds, which sets the stage for the existence of sophisticated odour-based mechanisms of mate choice also in birds. ?? 2011 The Royal Society. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70032408 |
| Citation Author: | Leclaire, S.; Merkling, T.; Raynaud, C.; Mulard, H.; Bessiere, J. -M.; Lhuillier, E. M.; Hatch, S. A.; Danchin, E. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | |
| Citation End Page: | 1193 |
| Citation Issue: | 1731 |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | 9 |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species; 2012; Article; Journal; Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences; Leclaire, S.; Merkling, T.; Raynaud, C.; Mulard, H.; Bessiere, J. -M.; Lhuillier, E. M.; Hatch, S. A.; Danchin, E. |
| Citation Start Page: | 1185 |
| Citation Volume: | 279 |
| Citation Year: | 2012 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species; 2012; Article; Journal; Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences; Leclaire, S.; Merkling, T.; Raynaud, C.; Mulard, H.; Bessiere, J. -M.; Lhuillier, E. M.; Hatch, S. A.; Danchin, E. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.1611 |
| Date Other: | Sun, 1 Jan 2012 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | |
