Mountain goats are no exception to the general rule among mammals that larger males sire more and healthier offspring. But University of Alberta researcher Dr. David Coltman and colleagues have recently found a genetic quirk that might make female mountain goats think twice about their prospective mates. The larger males pass their physical attributes and mating success to their male heirs. But Dr. Coltman's data shows the daughters of these larger males are routinely smaller and less fit than females produced by physically more modest fathers. Life on the side of a mountain favors bigger, healthier animals, both male and female. Dr. Coltman's research shows that this anomaly could have implications for female mate choice, because a female that mates with a large, dominant male can expect to have larger sons, but smaller and less fit daughters. The research also poses the question of why female offspring sired by the dominant male would be compromised. Another question the study raises is: what if any consideration does the size of their daughters have for would-be mothers? Could this be a factor weighed by a sexually mature female when courted by males that come in a variety of sizes? This study was featured as the cover story of the November 22 issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. [Press release] [PRS abstract]
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