TitleSelection at the Y chromosome of the African buffalo driven by rainfall.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2007
Authorsvan Hooft, P, Greyling, BJ, Prins, HHT, Getz, WM, Jolles, AE, Bastos, ADS
JournalPLoS One
Volume2
Issue10
Paginatione1086
Date Published2007 Oct 31
ISSN1932-6203
KeywordsAnimals, Behavior, Animal, Buffaloes, Ecology, Gene Frequency, Genetic Variation, Haplotypes, Male, Models, Genetic, Polymorphism, Genetic, Rain, Selection, Genetic, Tandem Repeat Sequences, Y Chromosome
Abstract

Selection coefficients at the mammalian Y chromosome typically do not deviate strongly from neutrality. Here we show that strong balancing selection, maintaining intermediate frequencies of DNA sequence variants, acts on the Y chromosome in two populations of African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). Significant correlations exist between sequence variant frequencies and annual rainfall in the years before conception, with five- to eightfold frequency changes over short time periods. Annual rainfall variation drives the balancing of sequence variant frequencies, probably by affecting parental condition. We conclude that sequence variants confer improved male reproductive success after either dry or wet years, making the population composition and dynamics very sensitive to climate change. The mammalian Y chromosome, interacting with ecological processes, may affect male reproductive success much more strongly than previously thought.

DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0001086
Alternate JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID17971851
PubMed Central IDPMC2034602