Male harm offsets the demographic benefits of good genes

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 120(10)

Опубликована: Март 2, 2023

Sexual conflict can arise when males evolve traits that improve their mating success but in doing so harm females. By reducing female fitness, male diminish offspring production a population and even drive extinction. Current theory on is based the assumption an individual’s phenotype solely determined by its genotype. But expression of most sexually selected also influenced variation biological condition (condition-dependent expression), such individuals better express more extreme phenotypes. Here, we developed demographically explicit models sexual evolution where vary condition. Because condition-dependent readily evolves for underlying conflict, show intense populations are Such intensified reduces mean fitness thus generate negative association between size. The impact demography especially likely to be detrimental genetic basis coevolves with conflict. This occurs because selection favors alleles (the so-called good genes effect), producing feedback drives harm. Our results indicate presence harm, effect fact easily becomes populations.

Язык: Английский

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Inferred Attractiveness: A generalized mechanism for sexual selection that can maintain variation in traits and preferences over time

PLoS Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 21(10), С. e3002269 - e3002269

Опубликована: Окт. 3, 2023

Sexual selection by mate choice is a powerful force that can lead to evolutionary change, and models of why females choose particular mates are central understanding its effects. Predominant theories assume preferences determined solely genetic inheritance, an assumption still lacking widespread support. Moreover, often vary among individuals or populations, fail correspond with conspicuous male traits, change context, patterns not predicted dominant models. Here, we propose new model explains this complexity one general hypothesized mechanism, “Inferred Attractiveness.” In model, acquire mating observing others’ choices use context-dependent information infer which traits attractive. They learn prefer the feature chosen most distinguishes him from other available males. Over generations, process produces repeated population-level switches in preference maintains trait variation. When viability strong, Inferred Attractiveness population-wide adaptive superficially resembling “good genes.” However, it results variation nonadaptive under predictable circumstances. By casting female brain as selective agent, captures novel dynamic aspects sexual reconciles inconsistencies between theory observed behavior.

Язык: Английский

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A pair of cadmium-exposed zebrafish affect social behavior of the un-exposed majority

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 100, С. 104119 - 104119

Опубликована: Апрель 5, 2023

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of mating preferences for genetic attractiveness and quality in the presence of sensory bias

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 119(33)

Опубликована: Авг. 8, 2022

The aesthetic preferences of potential mates have driven the evolution a baffling diversity elaborate ornaments. Which fitness benefit—if any—choosers gain from expressing such is controversial, however. Here, we simulate for multiple ornament types (e.g., “Fisherian,” “handicap,” and “indicator” ornaments) that differ in their associations with genes attractiveness other components fitness. We model costs preference expression biologically plausible way, which decouples costly mate search cost-free preferences. Ornaments all evolved our model, but occurrence was far random. Females typically preferred ornaments carried information about male’s quality, defined here as his ability to acquire metabolize resources. Highly salient ornaments, key into preexisting perceptual biases, were also more likely evolve. When males expressed quality-dependent females invested readily locate males. In contrast, genetic benefits associated purely arbitrary insufficient sustain highly search. Arbitrary could nonetheless “piggyback” on mate-search effort favored by other, further show produce attractive male offspring (“sexy sons”) can be important producing high general quality (“good genes”) shaping female preferences, even when are dependent. Our highlights importance driver coevolution.

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of honest and dishonest signals of fighting ability

Evolution Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 8(4), С. 514 - 525

Опубликована: Март 8, 2024

Abstract Competition over resources is often decided via aggressive interactions, which may or not escalate to all-out fights. Weapons and body size play important roles in such as they provide reliable cues of an individual’s fighting ability. In contrast, traits like nonfunctional display “weapons” dishonestly exaggerate ability order intimidate opponents into retreating. Signals used the context interactions potentially evolve very different mechanisms than courtship signals, but have received far less theoretical attention. Here, we contrast evolution honest dishonest signals using a game-theoretic model. Contests are assumed consist three discrete stages: from distance, low-intensity physical contact, fighting. At each stage, contestants evaluate their comparison own based on signal. After making this evaluation, decide whether interaction cede opponent. Our model predicts that both can beyond ecological optima, exaggeration more pronounced for signals. Equilibrium levels aggressiveness—as measured by individuals’ propensity next stage—are independent honesty We additionally develop novel approach, causal inference theory, understand how changes underlying parameters shape coevolution multiple traits. use approach study aggression coevolves with signal response cost losing fight.

Язык: Английский

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The evolution of dynamic and flexible courtship displays that reveal individual quality

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 77(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2023

Abstract Sexual selection is a major force shaping morphological and behavioral diversity. Existing theory focuses on courtship display traits such as ornaments whose costs benefits are assumed be to fixed across individuals’ lifetimes. In contrast, empirically observed displays often inherently dynamic, vividly illustrated by the acrobatic dances, loud vocalizations, vigorous motor involved in behavior broad range of taxa. One form flexibility occurs when signalers adjust their investment based number rival signalers. The predictions established sexual cannot readily extended because expression varies between events, that any given may not reliably reflect signaler quality. We thus lack an understanding how dynamic coevolve with preferences should tactically multiple opportunities. To address these questions, we model coevolution female preference male trait allow for flexible, displays. find can away from naturally selected optima, though intensity weaker signal quality than non-flexible Furthermore, males evolve decrease displaying alongside more rivals. This research represents first step towards generalizing findings account ubiquitous dynamism animal courtship. Significance statement Animal typically costly survival: songs attract predators; dances exhausting; extravagant plumage cumbersome. Because trade-off mating survival costs, individuals vary time, courting intensely potential benefit higher or cost lower. Despite ubiquity adjustment nature, existing this might affect preferences, nor patterns tactical result, those models treat static, benefits. Generalizing well-studied selection, static flexible under similar conditions. Our predicts less intense competitors present.

Язык: Английский

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Transient polymorphisms in parental care strategies drive divergence of sex roles

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Окт. 26, 2023

Abstract The parental roles of males and females differ considerably between within species. By means individual-based evolutionary simulations, we strive to explain this diversity. We show that the conflict sexes creates a sex bias (towards maternal or paternal care), even if two are initially identical. When including sexual selection, there outcomes: either female mate choice care no care. Interestingly, pattern drives selection not vice versa. Longer-term simulations exhibit rapid switches alternative patterns, in constant environments. Hence, lability observed phylogenetic studies is necessarily caused by external changes. Overall, our findings striking contrast predictions mathematical models. discrepancies transient within-sex polymorphisms strategies, factor largely neglected current sex-role theory.

Язык: Английский

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A reformulation of Fisher's runaway identifies the heritability of mate choices as a key parameter and highlights limitations of the hypothesis

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 291(2015)

Опубликована: Янв. 24, 2024

Fisher proposed that female preference for mates with extreme traits could evolve as an essentially arbitrary outcome of a self-reinforcing process. Although Fisher's runaway has been shown to be theoretical possibility, it is not clear whether occurs in real populations, part because existing models express the necessary conditions terms parameters would nearly impossible estimate wild. Here, I reformulate two estimable parameters, heritability and phenotypic variance realized mate choices. Higher values both quantities make more likely. In most realistic model considered, which choices are based on mixture absolute relative criteria, cannot occur unless choice increases male trait, seems incompatible strong directional mating preferences typically observed polygynous species. Even favourable case runaway, purely without direct selection preference, substantial required if there moderately stabilizing trait. These results cast some doubt plausible natural populations.

Язык: Английский

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Large and interactive pipefish females display ornaments for longer with many males around

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 78(9)

Опубликована: Авг. 24, 2024

Abstract Why do animals display sexual ornaments – to attract mates, compete for access them, or both? In the broad-nosed pipefish ( Syngnathus typhle ), ornamented females commonly males, whereas choosy males provide uniparental care. During courtship, show a dynamic ornament, consisting of row dark B-shaped signs along sides their trunk. Here, we focus on social context female ornamentation and mating success (egg transfer) under experimentally male biased adult sex ratios. We found that duration B-sign displays was not explained by ratios alone, but rather in combination with body length number interactions. detail, increased more steeply female-female interactions ratio: is, when opportunities were available. Similarly, length, only ratio. addition, successful egg transfer occurred often treatment correlated significantly same treatment. Taken together, these results suggest pipefish, ornamental B-signs primarily serve as sexually selected attractive signal. Our highlight importance an interactive environment, availability, size.

Язык: Английский

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New Cretaceous empidoids and the Mesozoic dance fly revolution (Diptera: Empidoidea)

Cladistics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 39(4), С. 337 - 357

Опубликована: Апрель 20, 2023

Abstract Dance flies and relatives (Empidoidea) are a diverse ecologically important group of Diptera in nearly all modern terrestrial ecosystems. Their fossil record, despite being scattered, attests to long evolutionary history dating back the early Mesozoic. Here, we describe seven new species Empidoidea from Cretaceous Kachin amber inclusions, assigning them genus Electrochoreutes gen.n. (type species: trisetigerus sp.n. ) based on unique apomorphies among known Diptera. Like many extant dance flies, males characterized by species‐specific sexually dimorphic traits, which likely have played role courtship. The fine anatomy fossils was investigated through high‐resolution X‐ray phase‐contrast microtomography reconstruct their phylogenetic affinities within empidoid clade, using cladistic reasoning. Morphology‐based analyses including selection family‐ subfamily‐ranked clades along with representatives extinct Mesozoic genera, were performed broad range analytical methods (maximum parsimony, maximum‐likelihood Bayesian inference). These converged reconstructing as stem‐group representative Dolichopodidae, suggesting that complex mating rituals evolved this lineage during Cretaceous.

Язык: Английский

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