Fitness-related patterns of genetic variation in rhesus macaques.
The patterning of quantitative genetic descriptions of genetic and residual variation for 15 skeletal and six life history traits was explored in a semi-free-ranging group of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta Zimmerman 1780). I tested theoretical predictions that explain the magnitude of genetic and residual variation as a result of 1. strength of a trait's association with evolutionary fitness, or 2. developmental and physiological relationships among traits. I found skeletal traits had higher heritabilities and lower coefficients of residual variation than more developmentally and physiologically dependent life history traits. Total lifetime fertility had a modest heritability (0.336) in this population, and traits with stronger correlations to fitness had larger amounts of residual variance. Censoring records of poorly-performing individuals on lifetime fertility and lifespan substantially reduced their heritabilities. These results support models for the fitness-related patterning of genetic variation based on developmental and physiological relationships among traits rather than the action of selection eroding variation.
Blomquist
Gregory E
GE
Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri, 107 Swallow Hall, Columbia, MO 65211-1440, USA. blomquistg@missouri.edu
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology