Data from: Inbreeding and inbreeding depression of early life traits in a cooperative mammal

Mating between relatives often results in negative fitness consequences or inbreeding depression. However, the expression of inbreeding in populations of wild cooperative mammals and the effects of environmental, maternal and social factors on inbreeding depression in these systems are currently not well understood. This study uses pedigree-based inbreeding coefficients from a long-term study of meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in South Africa to reveal that 44% of the population have detectably non-zero (F>0) inbreeding coefficients. 15% of these inbred individuals were the result of moderate inbreeding (F≥0.125), although such inbreeding events almost solely occurred when mating individuals had no prior experience of each other. Inbreeding depression was evident for a range of traits: pup mass at emergence from the natal burrow, hind-foot length, growth until independence and juvenile survival. However, we found no evidence of significant inbreeding depression for skull and forearm length or for pup survival. This research provides a rare investigation into inbreeding in a cooperative mammal, revealing high levels of inbreeding, considerable negative consequences and complex interactions with the social environment.

亲缘个体间的交配往往会引发有害的适合度后果，即近交衰退（inbreeding depression）。然而，目前学界对野生合作型哺乳动物种群中的近交表现，以及环境、母方与社会因素对这类种群近交衰退的影响，仍缺乏充分的认知。本研究依托针对南非狐獴（Suricata suricatta）的长期监测研究所得到的基于谱系的近交系数，分析发现该种群中有44%的个体可检测到非零（F>0）的近交系数。其中15%的近交个体属于中度近交（F≥0.125），但这类近交事件几乎仅发生在此前无任何互动经历的交配个体之间。多项性状均表现出显著的近交衰退：幼崽从出生洞穴出巢时的体重、后足长度、直至独立前的生长状况以及幼体存活率。但我们未发现头骨长度、前臂长度以及幼崽存活率存在显著近交衰退的证据。本研究是针对合作型哺乳动物近交现象的罕见系统性探究，揭示了该种群中较高的近交发生率、显著的负面效应，以及其与社会环境间的复杂相互作用。