Influence of genetic compatibility on offspring fitness in the red-backed toadlet

Presented are data from a manipulative study  investigating the influence of parental genetic compatibility on offspring viability in the red backed toadlet (Pseudophryne coriacea). The study used artificial fertilisation techniques combined with a cross-classified breeding design (North Carolina type II) to control parentage and partition sources of genetic and phenotypic variance in offspring fitness.  The study also tested the influence of parental genetic similarity on offspring viability. Quantitative genetic analysis of the data revealed no significant additive genetic effects (sire effects), but highly significant non-additive genetic effects (sire x dam interaction effects), on fertilisation success, survival during embryonic development, and hatching success. Analysis also revealled significant associations between parental genetic similarity and offspring survival (whereby survival was higher when parents were more related), and significant positive relationships between fertilisation success and embryo survival through to hatching.

Methods
The study involved 3 experimental blocks (blocks 1, 2 and 3). In block 1, four sires and four dams were mated in all 16 combinations (4 x 4 male-by-female factorial crosses). In block 2 and block 3, four sires and six dams were mated in all 24 combinations (4 x 6 male-by-female factorial crosses). The final combined design for the genetic analysis generated 64 families of paternal and maternal half siblings. For each cross we present data on fertilisation success, offspring survival during embryonic development (Gosner stage 13 and 17), and hatching success. We also present data on parental genetic similarity, assessed using 27, 768 single nucleotide polymorphisms.