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Genetic polymorphism for alternative mating behaviour in lekking male ruff Philomachus pugnax

Nature volume 378, pages 59–62 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

ALTERNATIVE male mating tactics are widespread among animal taxa1–3, but there are few well documented examples of genetic polymorphisms for them4–6. The dimorphism in male courtship behaviour between independent and satellite ruffs, Philomachm pugnax7,8 (a lekking sandpiper), has often been cited as a potential example but this has been questioned9,10 because of the lack of data11 and the widespread phenotypic plasticity in the development or expression of alternative tactics in other species1–3,9,12–14. By rearing ruffs in captivity, we now show that differential morph development is genetically controlled and consistent with a single-locus, two-allele autosomal genetic polymorphism. Several potentially relevant environmental factors do not appear to alter behavioural development.

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Author notes

  1. Olivier Hanotte and Terry Burke: Department of Zoology, University of Leicester, Leicester LEI 7RH,UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada

    David B. Lank, Constance M. Smith, Olivier Hanotte, Terry Burke & Fred Cooke

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  1. David B. Lank
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  2. Constance M. Smith
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  3. Olivier Hanotte
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  4. Terry Burke
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  5. Fred Cooke
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Lank, D., Smith, C., Hanotte, O. et al. Genetic polymorphism for alternative mating behaviour in lekking male ruff Philomachus pugnax. Nature 378, 59–62 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/378059a0

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