10.5061/DRYAD.20R6D
Weigel, Emily G.
Michigan State University
Testa, Nicholas D.
Michigan State University
Peer, Alex
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Garnett, Sara C.
Michigan State University
Data from: Context matters: sexual signaling loss in digital organisms
Dryad
dataset
2016
other organisms
Population ecology
Theory
2016-07-15T00:00:00Z
2016-07-15T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1631
31302954 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Sexual signals are important in attracting and choosing mates; however,
these signals and their associated preferences are often costly and
frequently lost. Despite the prevalence of signaling system loss in many
taxa, the factors leading to signal loss remain poorly understood. Here,
we test the hypothesis that complexity in signal loss scenarios is due to
the context-dependent nature of the many factors affecting signal loss
itself. Using the Avida digital life platform, we evolved 50 replicates of
~250 lineages, each with a unique combination of parameters, including
whether signaling is obligate or facultative; genetic linkage between
signaling and receiving genes; population size; and strength of preference
for signals. Each of these factors ostensibly plays a crucial role in
signal loss, but was found to do so only under specific conditions. Under
obligate signaling, genetic linkage, but not population size, influenced
signal loss; under facultative signaling, genetic linkage does not have
significant influence. Somewhat surprisingly, only a total loss of
preference in the obligate signaling populations led to total signal loss,
indicating that even a modest amount of preference is enough to maintain
signaling systems. Strength of preference proved to be the strongest
single force preventing signal loss, as it consistently overcame the
potential effects of drift within our study. Our findings suggest that
signaling loss is often dependent on not just preference for signals,
population size, and genetic linkage, but also whether signals are
required to initiate mating. These data provide an understanding of the
factors (and their interactions) that may facilitate the maintenance of
sexual signals.
sigloss_dataThis file contains all of the raw data from the avida experiments.