Genetically based social communication in an inbred group-living wild mammal
Evolution, Anthropology
Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions
Final Report Abstract
Mammals primarily communicate social information like relatedness and genetic compatibility through scent, but the specifics of these odor cues are still unknown. This project aimed to determine if genetics, especially the polymorphic immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), influence identity cues used in social signalling. The research focused on the long-term banded mongoose field project in Uganda and aimed to characterize the MHC of banded mongooses and explore its role in predicting fitness traits, kin-recognition and inbreeding avoidance, and chemical odor types and individual microbiota composition. This project significantly advanced our understanding of the role of MHC in genetic-based social communication by showing that: (1) MHC diversity is maintained in inbred banded mongooses, with patterns of selection indicating historical and ongoing selection in this region; (2) MHC diversity is crucial for fitness and has a sex-specific impact on pup survival, independent of overall genomic diversity; (3) a comprehensive literature review on the connections between MHC, odor, and microbiota reveals that causal links are currently missing; and (4) further studies, including scent gland histology and field experiments, are needed to establish the mechanisms of odor communication and confirm their use in natural conditions. The results from this project will enhance our understanding of fundamental concepts in the evolution of social behavior and host immunity and provide important insights into the relevance of MHC in a species where inbreeding is common.
Publications
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How can the MHC mediate social odor via the microbiota community? A deep dive into mechanisms. Behavioral Ecology, 32(3), 359-373.
Schubert, Nadine; Nichols, Hazel J. & Winternitz, Jamie C.
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Let’s keep alternative hypotheses on the table: a response to comments on Schubert et al.. Behavioral Ecology, 32(3), 378-379.
Winternitz, Jamie C.; Schubert, Nadine & Nichols, Hazel J.
