Subordinate male meerkats prospect for extra-group paternity: alternative reproductive tactics in a cooperative mammal

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 274; no. 1618; pp. 1603 - 1609
• Main Authors: Young, Andrew J, Spong, Goran, Clutton-Brock, Tim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 07.07.2007
• Subjects: Animal reproduction; Animals; Appetitive Behavior - physiology; Breeding; Cooperation; Desert Climate; Extra-Pair Paternity; Female fertility; Fertility - physiology; Herpestidae - physiology; Hierarchy, Social; Likelihood Functions; Male; Male animals; Mammals; Mating behavior; Mating System; Multi-Male Groups; Prospecting; Reproductive Skew; Reproductive success; Selection, Genetic; Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology; South Africa; Statistics, Nonparametric; Subordinate personnel; Suricata suricatta; South Africa

In cooperatively breeding species, subordinates typically suffer strong constraints on within-group reproduction. While numerous studies have highlighted the additional fitness benefits that subordinates might accrue through helping, few have considered the possibility that subordinates may also see...