10.5061/DRYAD.58VD2
Manser, Andri
University of Zurich
University of Liverpool
University of Groningen
Lindholm, Anna K.
University of Zurich
Weissing, Franjo J.
University of Groningen
Weissing, Franz J.
University of Groningen
Data from: The evolution of costly mate choice against segregation distorters
Dryad
dataset
2017
meiotic drive
lek paradox
segregation distortion
Selection - Sexual
Mate choice
gene drive
2017-10-19T14:38:37Z
2017-10-19T14:38:37Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13376
14934 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The evolution of female preference for male genetic quality remains a
controversial topic in sexual selection research. One well-known problem,
known as the lek paradox, lies in understanding how variation in genetic
quality is maintained in spite of natural selection and sexual selection
against low-quality alleles. Here, we theoretically investigate a scenario
where females pay a direct fitness cost to avoid males carrying an
autosomal segregation distorter. We show that preference evolution is
greatly facilitated under such circumstances. Because the distorter is
transmitted in a non-Mendelian fashion, it can be maintained in the
population despite directional sexual selection. The preference helps
females avoid fitness costs associated with the distorter. Interestingly,
we find that preference evolution is limited if the choice allele induces
a very strong preference or if distortion is very strong. Moreover, the
preference can only persist in the presence of a signal that reliably
indicates a male's distorter genotype. Hence, even in a system where
the lek paradox does not play a major role, costly preferences can only
spread under specific circumstances. We discuss the importance of
distorter systems for the evolution of costly female choice and potential
implications for the use of artificial distorters in pest control.
ModelCodeR-code to numerically solve the model described in the methods
and the supplementary text S1.