Genetic relatedness of couples and reproductive success, measured as the mean number of juvenile per clutch.

<p>Genetic relatedness of couples and reproductive success, measured as the mean number of juvenile per clutch.</p

Microsatellite statistics.

<p>Microsatellite statistics.</p

Feral Pigeons (<i>Columba livia</i>) Prefer Genetically Similar Mates despite Inbreeding Depression

<div><p>Avoidance of mating between related individuals is usually considered adaptive because it decreases the probability of inbreeding depression in offspring. However, mating between related partners can be adaptive if outbreeding depression is stronger than inbreeding depression or if females gain inclusive fitness benefits by mating with close kin. In the present study, we used microsatellite data to infer the parentage of juveniles born in a French colony of feral pigeons, which allowed us to deduce parent pairs. Despite detectable inbreeding depression, we found that pairwise relatedness between mates was significantly higher than between nonmates, with a mean coefficient of relatedness between mates of 0.065, approximately half the theoretical value for first cousins. This higher relatedness between mates cannot be explained by spatial genetic structure in this colonial bird; it therefore probably results from an active choice. As inbreeding but not outbreeding depression is observed in the study population, this finding accords with the idea that mating with genetically similar mates can confer a benefit in terms of inclusive fitness. Our results and published evidence suggest that preference for related individuals as mates might be relatively frequent in birds.</p></div

A list of studies using molecular or pedigree data to compare the average relatedness observed between mates with the relatedness expected under random mating in wild populations of birds.

<p>Adapted and updated from Table IV of Kempenaers (2007).</p

Estimates of each variable under selected model (model 6 in Table 2).

<p>The control variables were respectively the railway stations for locations, adults for age and women for gender.</p><p>Estimates of each variable under selected model (model 6 in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0130215#pone.0130215.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>).</p

Proportions of interactive behaviours towards pigeons for three age categories.

<p>Proportions of interactive behaviours towards pigeons for three age categories.</p

Model selection based on AIC criteria.

<p>Age was modeled in three age categories (children, adults, elderly). Based on AIC, the two best models are presented in bold. For parsimony reasons, we selected the model (6) in our results.</p><p>Model selection based on AIC criteria.</p