Abstract - Avoidance of Incest in Prairie Dogs

Hoogland, John L. Avoidance of Incest in Prairie Dogs. 28+ p.

Summary

Avoidance of incest has only rarely been observed in natural populations of animals, mainly because the critical genetic relationships are usually unknown. In a 3-yr study at a colony containing individuals of known ages and genetic relationships, I investigated the mating system of black-tailed prairie dogs (Rodentia: Sciuridae: Cynomys ludovicianus). The dispersal patterns of young males, the disperal patterns of older males, the breeding patterns of yearlings females, and apparent incest taboos all discourage incest in htis unusually social rodent. Females that face the possibility of incest because of a nearby male relative are significantly less likely to wean a litter.