Using DNA fingerprinting to estimate relatedness within social groups of pine voles

Abstract

Pine voles are assumed to be cooperative breeders that live in extended families. We applied DNA fingerprinting techniques using restriction enzyme AluI and Jeffrey's probe 33.15 to wild-caught pine voles to estimate relatedness among individuals in social groups. Background band-sharing between unrelated individuals revealed a high degree of genetic variation (X̄ BS ± SD = 0.28 ± 0.09). Band-sharing values that range from 0.47 ± 0.20 to 0.60 ± 0.12 from putative groups suggest that groups form from simple nuclear families that may contain some unrelated individuals. In two of the five groups, band-sharing values suggest that offspring from previous litters remain philopatric beyond weaning, while parents produce successive litters. Furthermore, within-group band-sharing values are consistent with a monogamous mating system. This study provides preliminary genetic evidence concerning the degree of relatedness among individuals within groups of pine voles in an orchard habitat.