Data from: Paternity analysis of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) reveals complex mating patterns

Mating system characteristics are of great importance as they may influence male and female reproductive success and reproductive isolation. The wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) is a terrestrial freshwater species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Considering its conservation status and the paucity of information currently available on parentage relationship for the species, we performed a microsatellite analysis to study the mating system of wood turtles in the Shawinigan River (Québec). We sampled 38 clutches over two years (14 in 2006 and 24 in 2007), for a total of 248 offspring genotyped with seven microsatellite loci. The reconstructed genotypes of the fathers revealed that reproductive success in the sampled clutches varied greatly between males and are positively correlated with the number of mates and clutches sired. Frequency of multiple paternity was estimated at 37% through a consensus of three different estimation methods. Positive correlation was observed between the genetic diversity of clutches and the number of fathers. Repeat paternity, however, was observed in 88% of the clutches by the same female in successive years, which suggests either a frequent use of sperm storage, or re-mating with the same partner in successive years.

交配系统特征具有重要研究意义，其可影响雌雄个体的繁殖成功率与生殖隔离。木雕龟（Glyptemys insculpta）是陆生淡水龟类，被国际自然保护联盟（International Union for Conservation of Nature）列为濒危物种。鉴于该物种的保护现状，以及当前其亲缘关系相关信息的匮乏，我们针对魁北克省肖维尼甘河（Shawinigan River）流域的木雕龟开展了微卫星分析，以研究其交配系统。本研究在两年间共采集38窝卵（2006年14窝，2007年24窝），总计对248只幼龟进行了7个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）的基因分型。通过重构的父本基因型分析发现，采样窝卵的雄性繁殖成功率差异显著，且与雄性的交配配偶数量及其所繁殖的窝卵数呈正相关。通过三种不同估算方法的综合分析，本研究估算得出多父本现象的发生频率为37%。研究同时发现，窝卵的遗传多样性与父本数量呈正相关。然而，88%的窝卵由同一只雌性在连续年份中产下且父本均为同一雄性个体，这表明该物种要么频繁利用精子储存策略，要么会在连续年份中与同一配偶再次交配。