Multiple paternity in a free-ranging population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): disease implications

Sexual contact is an important driver of disease spread and estimates of intersexual contact rates could provide insight to disease management programs. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmerman, 1780) populations... [ view full abstract ]

Sexual contact is an important driver of disease spread and estimates of intersexual contact rates could provide insight to disease management programs. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Zimmerman, 1780) populations are susceptible to chronic wasting disease but intersexual contact rates are unknown. Using two methods, we calculated multiple paternity rates among a large, open population of free-ranging white-tailed deer. We used multiple paternity estimates as a proxy for intersexual contact and assessed factors that may influence population demographic structure and intersexual interaction that have the potential to cause variation in multiple paternity rates. Using maximum likelihood methods (ML), 34.3% of 77 offspring arrays (n = 223 fetuses) were sired by multiple males. Based on genotypes of 57 offspring arrays (n = 173 fetuses) exclusion analysis estimated 21.2% were sired by multiple males. Genetic diversity was similar between single and multi-sire offspring arrays (ML FST = 0.005, P = 0.09). Multiple paternity did not correlate with differences in landscape, removal pressure as a result of hunting or disease management, or disease prevalence. Similarly, neither the sex ratio (M:F) of harvested animals (X ̅ = 1.3) nor fetuses (X ̅ = 1.1) correlated with multiple paternity. Our results indicate relatively consistent multiple paternity rates across a large geographic area.