The functional significance of partner choice remains puzzling. One hypothesis that is attracting increasing interest proposes that, because individuals that are more genetically diverse are often able to recognise and combat a wider range of pathogens, preference for genetically compatible partners should evolve to promote offspring genetic diversity.
A number of studies have tested this idea in females, but few have investigated or controlled for corresponding preferences in males. In this study, we address this gap by focusing on partner similarity at the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), a key gene complex in vertebrate immune function. We experimentally tested whether male red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, prefer MHC-dissimilar females.
While we found that males were as likely to copulate with MHC-similar as with MHC-dissimilar females, they allocated more sperm to the most MHC-dissimilar of two sequentially presented females.
These results provide the first experimental evidence that males might respond to the MHC similarity of a female through differential ejaculate expenditure. The present study demonstrates the need to experimentally disentangle male and female effects when studying preferences for genetically compatible partners.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
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