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Proc Biol Sci

Title:		Semiochemical compounds of preen secretion reflect genetic make-up in a seabird species
Author(s):		Leclaire S; Merkling T; Raynaud C; Mulard H; Bessiere JM; Lhuillier E; Hatch SA; Danchin E;
Address:		"CNRS, Universite Paul Sabatier, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Evolution et Diversite Biologique), Toulouse, France. sarah.leclaire@free.fr"
Journal Title:		Proc Biol Sci
Year:		2012
Volume:		20110921
Issue:		1731
Page Number:		1185 - 1193
DOI:		10.1098/rspb.2011.1611
ISSN/ISBN:		1471-2954 (Electronic) 0962-8452 (Print) 0962-8452 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Several vertebrates choose their mate according to genetic heterozygosity and relatedness, and use odour cues to assess their conspecifics' genetic make-up. In birds, although several species (including the black-legged kittiwake) exhibit non-random mating according to genetic traits, the cues used to assess genetic characteristics remain unknown. The importance of olfaction in birds' social behaviour is gaining attention among researchers, and it has been suggested that, as in other vertebrates, bird body scent may convey information about genetic traits. Here, we combined gas chromatography data and genetic analyses at microsatellite loci to test whether semiochemical messages in preen secretion of kittiwakes carried information about genetic heterozygosity and relatedness. Semiochemical profile was correlated with heterozygosity in males and females, while semiochemical distance was correlated with genetic distance only in male-male dyads. Our study is the first to demonstrate a link between odour and genetics in birds, which sets the stage for the existence of sophisticated odour-based mechanisms of mate choice also in birds"
Keywords:		"Animals Charadriiformes/*genetics/metabolism Female *Genetic Variation Grooming Male *Odorants Pheromones/chemistry/*genetics Sexual Behavior, Animal Smell Social Behavior;"
Notes:		"MedlineLeclaire, Sarah Merkling, Thomas Raynaud, Christine Mulard, Herve Bessiere, Jean-Marie Lhuillier, Emeline Hatch, Scott A Danchin, Etienne eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/09/23 Proc Biol Sci. 2012 Mar 22; 279(1731):1185-93. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.1611. Epub 2011 Sep 21"