The evolution of sex roles: The importance of ecology and social environment

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 121(22)

Опубликована: Май 21, 2024

Males and females often have different roles in reproduction, although the origin of these differences has remained controversial. Explaining enigmatic reversed sex where males sacrifice their mating potential provide full parental care is a particularly long-standing challenge evolutionary biology. While most studies focused on ecological factors as drivers roles, recent research highlights significance social such adult ratio. To disentangle propositions, here, we investigate additive interactive effects several role variation using shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers, allies) model organisms that spectrum including some best-known examples sex-role reversal. Our results consistently show play prominent driving roles. Importantly, are associated with both male-skewed ratios high breeding densities. Furthermore, phylogenetic path analyses general support for variations rather than being consequence Together, important open future directions by showing opportunities major generating diversity system, care.

Язык: Английский

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Shifts in sex-specific immune gene expression in a beetle with parental care

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(1)

Опубликована: Март 29, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Revisiting “Grandmothers and the Evolution of Human Longevity” 2003 AJHBhttps://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.10156

American Journal of Human Biology, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 37(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Compared to our closest living cousins, the great apes, humans can live longer with a distinctive postmenopausal lifespan; development is slower, yet babies are weaned earlier. Continued investigation since 2003 shows grandmother hypothesis robust explanation for those differences and many other human features: When ecological changes in ancient Africa spread profitable foraging targets ancestral adults that infants small juveniles couldn't handle, reliable by females near end of their own fertility could subsidize dependent grandchildren shorten daughters' time next conception. Coevolution shorter birth intervals slower aging expanded pool older still‐fertile males. With more competitors, guarding mate wins paternities, linking pair bonds mid‐life menopause. Mate plus males' advantage reputation building explains aspects patriarchy. In addition, final brain size placental mammals depends on duration development. As increasing longevity slowed size, earlier weaning still physically helpless prioritized attention capacities engage carers. Resulting socially precocious infancies wire us lifelong appetites cooperation.

Язык: Английский

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A life-history perspective on the evolutionary interplay of sex ratios and parental sex roles

The American Naturalist, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 205(2), С. E49 - E65

Опубликована: Окт. 10, 2024

AbstractThe parental roles of males and females differ remarkably across the tree life, several studies suggest that sex are associated with biased ratios. However, there is considerable debate on causal relationship between ratios relative importance operational ratio (OSR), adult (ASR), maturation (MSR). Here, we use individual-based evolutionary simulations to investigate joint evolution sex-specific behavior various in life history scenarios. We show typically, but not always, lower mortality or faster maturity tends provide most care. The association more intricate. At equilibrium, OSR typically toward less caring sex, direction strength biases may change considerably during evolution. When MSR ASR biased, a broad spectrum care patterns can evolve, although overrepresented generally does caring. conclude none driver roles; they rather coevolve subtle manner.

Язык: Английский

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Role-reversed polyandry is associated with faster fast-Z in shorebirds

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

Опубликована: Июнь 1, 2024

In birds, males are homogametic and carry two copies of the Z chromosome (‘ZZ’), while females heterogametic exhibit a ‘ZW’ genotype. The evolves at faster rate than similarly sized autosomes, phenomenon termed ‘fast-Z evolution’. This is thought to be caused by independent processes—greater genetic drift owing reduced effective population size, stronger positive selection exposure partially recessive alleles selection. Here, we investigate relative contributions these processes considering effect role-reversed polyandry on fast-Z in shorebirds, paraphyletic group wading birds that unusually diverse mating systems. We find effects under polyandry, which consistent with particularly strong polyandrous driving fixation beneficial alleles. result contrasts previous research has tended implicate primary role variation. suggest this discrepancy can interpreted ways—stronger sexual acting overwhelms an otherwise central drift, and/or antagonism also contributing significantly exacerbated sexually dimorphic species.

Язык: Английский

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Pre‐Copulatory Sexual Selection Predicts Sexual Size Dimorphism: A Meta‐Analysis of Comparative Studies

Ecology Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 27(9)

Опубликована: Сен. 1, 2024

Size differences between males and females are common across the tree of life (termed sexual size dimorphism; SSD), have fundamental implications for ecology, history behaviour both sexes. Conventionally, SSD is thought to evolve in response sex-specific selection but more recent work suggests that ecological processes can also promote sex-differences size. Here, we provide a global test role evolution dimorphism using data from 77 comparative studies spanning major classes animal kingdom. We show intense typically correlates with male-biased species. Importantly, pre-copulatory not post-copulatory predicts SSD, suggesting pervasive premating male-male competition female choice drive sex body Collectively, our findings suggest plays SSD.

Язык: Английский

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Breeding ecology of a high-altitude shorebird in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Journal of Ornithology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 165(3), С. 713 - 724

Опубликована: Март 21, 2024

Abstract Shorebirds are facing global decline as a consequence of anthropogenic effects that include habitat loss, increased predation and climate change. Although some shorebirds extensively studied, basic data on life history, ecology behaviour still lacking especially for populations where change is expected to have severe effects. Here, we provide the first detailed investigation high-altitude nesting shorebird in Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, Tibetan Sand Plover Charadrius atrifrons . This alpine-breeding Central-Asian species recently split from Lesser mongolus breeds Eastern Siberia. Understanding fundamental important predicting challenges these will face given human-driven environmental changes likely take place habitats. show Plovers Plateau short breeding season mid-May late-June, exhibit social monogamy bi-parental care clutch. Since they low hatching success (18 57 nests hatched) no chance renesting, maintaining population size future may pose challenge. To essential information protection this vulnerable habitat, further demographic studies warranted better understand how mould adaptations specialised their environment.

Язык: Английский

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Evolution of reproductive strategies: sex roles, sex ratios and phylogenies

Biologia Futura, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 74(4), С. 351 - 357

Опубликована: Сен. 19, 2023

Abstract Behavioural variations associated with breeding—termed reproductive strategies—are some of the striking behaviours that have occupied naturalists for 1000s years. How an animal seeks, competes and/or chooses a mate? Do they breed single partner, or do change partners between breeding events? and when look after their young? biologists, ecologists evolutionary biologists investigated these questions using quantitative methods since 1970s. In Debrecen, support mentoring Prof Zoltán Varga, we are investigating causes implications strategies 1988. This article reviews core ideas in research explains influence Varga on development ideas. My main thesis here is both integrative thinking adopting multi-pronged approach explicit phylogenetic framework—both been spearheaded by throughout his lifetime—can reveal novel aspects strategies. Importantly, academic insights direct preserving species habitats wild, thus benefit biodiversity conservation.

Язык: Английский

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Sex ratios and gender norms: why both are needed to understand sexual conflict in humans

Evolutionary Human Sciences, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 6

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Sexual conflict theory has been successfully applied to predict how in non-human animal populations, sex ratios can lead conflicting reproductive interests of females and males affect their bargaining positions resolving such conflicts interests. Recently this extended understand the resolution sexual humans, but with mixed success. We argue that an underappreciation complex relationship between gender norms hampered a successful understanding humans. In paper, we review expand upon existing increase its applicability where regulate ratio effects on conflict. Gender constrain who is marriage market they are valued, may decision-making power. also directly ratios, hypothesize structure individuals respond value gained or lost through biased ratios. Importantly, part product women's men's sometimes interests, these subject other evolutionary processes. An integration cultural required allow for full

Язык: Английский

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Haemosporidian infections are more common in breeding shorebirds than in migrating shorebirds

Ibis, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 4, 2024

Migrating animals are thought to be important spillover sources for novel pathogens. Haemosporidians (malaria‐related parasites) one such group of pathogens that commonly into host communities if competent vectors present. In birds, shorebirds (sandpipers, plovers and allies) perform some the longest avian migrations, yet they traditionally perceived as relatively free from haemosporidians. Although low prevalence fits several theories, effective immune responses or exposure vectors, few studies have been carried out in freshwater inland sites, where haemosporidians (e.g. mosquitoes) abundant, with a mixture actively migrating (staging) breeding hosts. Here we report three haemosporidian parasites, Haemoproteus , Leucocytozoon Plasmodium screened 214 15 species sampled marshland, southern Belarus. Contrary most previous studies, found were frequent, an overall community 16.36%, including locally (23.13%, 134 individuals 10 species). However, had much lower (0.05%, 55 five We suggest blood parasite infections more common than currently acknowledged. Yet, may carry suppressed infections, leading even apparent absence species. Taken together, theorize combination sampling biases has driven our understanding future should take migratory status account when reporting prevalence. Furthermore, argue birds undergoing active migration less likely events previously assumed.

Язык: Английский

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