The mating system of Himalayan marmots as inferred by microsatellite markers

Yi Chen; Cheng Guo; Shuailing Zhou; Zuofu Xiang

doi:10.1093/cz/zoac079

The mating system of Himalayan marmots as inferred by microsatellite markers

Curr Zool. 2022 Oct 26;69(6):654-657. doi: 10.1093/cz/zoac079. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Yi Chen^{1

2}, Cheng Guo^{1

3}, Shuailing Zhou^{1

3}, Zuofu Xiang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Biology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 498 Shaoshan Nanlu, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.
² College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 498 Shaoshan Nanlu, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.
³ College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, 498 Shaoshan Nanlu, Changsha, Hunan 410004, China.

Abstract

The Himalayan marmot Marmota himalayana is widely distributed across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and lives in social groups, yet the mating system of this highly social marmot species is unknown. In this study, the genetic mating system of Himalayan marmots was investigated using microsatellite markers to determine which mating strategies individuals employ. Results revealed that both monogamous and polygamous mating relationships occur in our study population, indicating that the genetic mating system of this marmot species is promiscuity. This study presents the first genetic evidence on the mating system for Himalayan marmots, yet indicates that further studies employing both a genetic and behavioral framework are needed to better understand the social structure and reproductive biology of this marmot species.

Keywords: Marmota himalayana; ground squirrels; mating system; microsatellites; sociality.