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Selection for male stamina can help explain costly displays with cost-minimizing female choice. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In many species, male lifespan is shorter than that of females, often attributed to sexual selection favouring costly expression of traits preferred by females. Coevolutionary models of female preferences and male traits predict that males can be selected to have such life histories; however, this typically requires that females also pay some costs to express their preferences. Here we show that this problem diminishes when we link coevolutionary models of costly mate choice with the idea of stamina. In our model, the most successful males are those who can combine high attendance time on a lek — or, more generally, tenacious effort in their display time budgets — with high viability such that they are not too strongly compromised in terms of lifespan. We find that an opportunistic female strategy, that minimizes its costs by mating with highly visible (displaying) males, often beats other alternatives. It typically resists invasion attempts of genotypes that mate randomly in the population genetic sense, as well as invasion of stricter ways of being choosy (which are potentially costly if choice requires e.g. active rejection of all males who do not presently display, or risky travel to lekking sites). Our model can produce a wide range of male time budgets (display vs. self-maintenance). This includes cases of alternative mating tactics where males in good condition spend much time displaying, while those in poor condition never display yet, importantly, gain some mating success due to females not engaging in rejection behaviours should these be very costly to express.
Significance statement
In many species, males spend much time and energy on displaying to attract females, but it is not always clear what females gain from paying attention to male displays. The tradition in mathematical models attempting to understand the situation is to assume that random mating is the least costly option for females. However, random mating in the population genetic sense requires females to behave in a manner that equalizes mating success between displaying and non-displaying males, and here we point out that this is biologically unlikely. Opportunistically mating females can cause males to spend much of their time budgets displaying and will shorten male lifespans in a quality-dependent manner.
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Rosenthal MF, Elias DO. Nonlinear changes in selection on a mating display across a continuous thermal gradient. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191450. [PMID: 31337317 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding how animal communication varies across time and space is critical to understanding how animal signals have evolved and how they function. Changes in temperature, which occur across both time and space, can alter both the courtship and mate choice behaviour of ectothermic animals. In this study, we examine the effect of daily thermal variation on courtship and mate choice in the wolf spider Schizocosa floridana, which produces a complex song with vibrations from three distinct body parts. We test the hypothesis that different components of S. floridana's courtship respond differently to daily changes in temperature and that corresponding mate choice patterns lead to complex, overlapping shifts in selection on the display itself. By manipulating the thermal environment of courting and choosing pairs, we found that several song components increased in production rate with increased temperature, whereas others decreased, or did not respond at all. We also found evidence that selection on courtship shifts with temperature in several ways, with some display components experiencing directional selection at higher temperatures, but not at lower temperatures. Our findings make it clear that understanding the effect of environmental variation on communication is critical to understanding how selection operates on mate choice and how signals, particularly complex signals, evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Fogelin Rosenthal
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Damian O Elias
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, 137 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Husemann M, Tobler M, McCauley C, Ding B, Danley PD. Body shape differences in a pair of closely related Malawi cichlids and their hybrids: Effects of genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity, and transgressive segregation. Ecol Evol 2017. [PMID: 28649345 PMCID: PMC5478046 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic differences may have genetic and plastic components. Here, we investigated the contributions of both for differences in body shape in two species of Lake Malawi cichlids using wild-caught specimens and a common garden experiment. We further hybridized the two species to investigate the mode of gene action influencing body shape differences and to examine the potential for transgressive segregation. We found that body shape differences between the two species observed in the field are maintained after more than 10 generations in a standardized environment. Nonetheless, both species experienced similar changes in the laboratory environment. Our hybrid cross experiment confirmed that substantial variation in body shape appears to be genetically determined. The data further suggest that the underlying mode of gene action is complex and cannot be explained by simple additive or additive-dominance models. Transgressive phenotypes were found in the hybrid generations, as hybrids occupied significantly more morphospace than both parentals combined. Further, the body shapes of transgressive individuals resemble the body shapes observed in other Lake Malawi rock-dwelling genera. Our findings indicate that body shape can respond to selection immediately, through plasticity, and over longer timescales through adaptation. In addition, our results suggest that hybridization may have played an important role in the diversification of Lake Malawi cichlids through creating new phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Husemann
- Centrum für Naturkunde University of Hamburg Hamburg Germany.,Biology Department Baylor University Waco TX USA
| | - Michael Tobler
- Division of Biology Kansas State University Manhattan KS USA
| | - Cagney McCauley
- Biology Department Baylor University Waco TX USA.,Department of Biological Sciences Institute of Applied Sciences University of North Texas 282 Cr 332 Rosebud Denton TX USA
| | - Baoqing Ding
- Biology Department Baylor University Waco TX USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Connecticut Storrs CT USA
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Höglund J, Wang B, Saether SA, Blom MPK, Fiske P, Halvarsson P, Horsburgh GJ, Burke T, Kålås JA, Ekblom R. Blood transcriptomes and de novo identification of candidate loci for mating success in lekking great snipe (Gallinago media). Mol Ecol 2017; 26:3458-3471. [PMID: 28345264 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We assembled the great snipe blood transcriptome using data from fourteen lekking males, in order to de novo identify candidate genes related to sexual selection, and determined the expression profiles in relation to mating success. The three most highly transcribed genes were encoding different haemoglobin subunits. All tended to be overexpressed in males with high mating success. We also called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the transcriptome data and found considerable genetic variation for many genes expressed during lekking. Among these, we identified 14 polymorphic candidate SNPs that had a significant genotypic association with mating success (number of females mated with) and/or mating status (mated or not). Four of the candidate SNPs were found in HBAA (encoding the haemoglobin α-chain). Heterozygotes for one of these and one SNP in the gene PABPC1 appeared to enjoy higher mating success compared to males homozygous for either of the alleles. In a larger data set of individuals, we genotyped 38 of the identified SNPs but found low support for consistent selection as only one of the zygosities of previously identified candidate SNPs and none of their genotypes were associated with mating status. However, candidate SNPs generally showed lower levels of spatial genetic structure compared to noncandidate markers. We also scored the prevalence of avian malaria in a subsample of birds. Males infected with avian malaria parasites had lower mating success in the year of sampling than noninfected males. Parasite infection and its interaction with specific genes may thus affect performance on the lek.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Höglund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Biao Wang
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Mozes Pil Kyu Blom
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Peder Fiske
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Peter Halvarsson
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gavin J Horsburgh
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Terry Burke
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - John Atle Kålås
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Robert Ekblom
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Sasson DA, Munoz PR, Gezan SA, Miller CW. Resource quality affects weapon and testis size and the ability of these traits to respond to selection in the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2098-108. [PMID: 27066225 PMCID: PMC4768751 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The size of weapons and testes can be central to male reproductive success. Yet, the expression of these traits is often extremely variable. Studies are needed that take a more complete organism perspective, investigating the sources of variation in both traits simultaneously and using developmental conditions that mimic those in nature. In this study, we investigated the components of variation in weapon and testis sizes using the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on three natural developmental diets. We show that the developmental diet has profound effects on both weapon and testis expression and scaling. Intriguingly, males in the medium-quality diet express large weapons but have relatively tiny testes, suggesting complex allocation decisions. We also find that heritability, evolvability, and additive genetic variation are highest in the high-quality diet for testis and body mass. This result suggests that these traits may have an enhanced ability to respond to selection during a small window of time each year when this diet is available. Taken together, these results illustrate that normal, seasonal fluctuations in the nutritional environment may play a large role in the expression of sexually selected traits and the ability of these traits to respond to selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Sasson
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience University of Florida 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd St. Augustine Florida 32080
| | - Patricio R Munoz
- Department of Agronomy University of Florida 2005 SW 23 St. Bldg 350 Gainesville Florida 32611
| | - Salvador A Gezan
- School of Forest Resources & Conservation University of Florida PO Box 110410 Gainesville Florida 32611
| | - Christine W Miller
- Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida PO Box 110620 Gainesville Florida 32611
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Gleason JM, Zhou Y, Hackett JL, Harris BR, Greenfield MD. Development of a Genomic Resource and Quantitative Trait Loci Mapping of Male Calling Traits in the Lesser Wax Moth, Achroia grisella. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147014. [PMID: 26807910 PMCID: PMC4726463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the study of sexual selection among insects, the Lesser Waxmoth, Achroia grisella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), has been one of the more intensively studied species over the past 20 years. Studies have focused on how the male calling song functions in pair formation and on the quantitative genetics of male song characters and female preference for the song. Recent QTL studies have attempted to elucidate the genetic architecture of male song and female preference traits using AFLP markers. We continued these QTL studies using SNP markers derived from an EST library that allowed us to measure both DNA sequence variation and map loci with respect to the lepidopteran genome. We report that the level of sequence variation within A. grisella is typical among other Lepidoptera that have been examined, and that comparison with the Bombyx mori genome shows that macrosynteny is conserved. Our QTL map shows that a QTL for a male song trait, pulse-pair rate, is situated on the Z chromosome, a prediction for sexually selected traits in Lepidoptera. Our findings will be useful for future studies of genetic architecture of this model species and may help identify the genetics associated with the evolution of its novel acoustic communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Gleason
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Yihong Zhou
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Hackett
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Bethany R. Harris
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Michael D. Greenfield
- Institut de recherche sur la biologie de l'insecte (IRBI), CNRS UMR 7261,Université François Rabelais de Tours, Tours, France
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Evans JP, Rahman MM, Gasparini C. Genotype-by-environment interactions underlie the expression of pre- and post-copulatory sexually selected traits in guppies. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:959-72. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 03/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. P. Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology; School of Animal Biology (M092); Crawley WA Australia
| | - M. M. Rahman
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology; School of Animal Biology (M092); Crawley WA Australia
| | - C. Gasparini
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology; School of Animal Biology (M092); Crawley WA Australia
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Dmitriew C, Blanckenhorn WU. Condition dependence and the maintenance of genetic variance in a sexually dimorphic black scavenger fly. J Evol Biol 2014; 27:2408-19. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Dmitriew
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - W. U. Blanckenhorn
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
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