1
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Pennell TM, Mank JE, Alonzo SH, Hosken DJ. On the resolution of sexual conflict over shared traits. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240438. [PMID: 39082243 PMCID: PMC11289733 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Anisogamy, different-sized male and female gametes, sits at the heart of sexual selection and conflict between the sexes. Sperm producers (males) and egg producers (females) of the same species generally share most, if not all, of the same genome, but selection frequently favours different trait values in each sex for traits common to both. The extent to which this conflict might be resolved, and the potential mechanisms by which this can occur, have been widely debated. Here, we summarize recent findings and emphasize that once the sexes evolve, sexual selection is ongoing, and therefore new conflict is always possible. In addition, sexual conflict is largely a multivariate problem, involving trait combinations underpinned by networks of interconnected genes. Although these complexities can hinder conflict resolution, they also provide multiple possible routes to decouple male and female phenotypes and permit sex-specific evolution. Finally, we highlight difficulty in the study of sexual conflict over shared traits and promising directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M. Pennell
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE), University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, PenrynTR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Suzanne H. Alonzo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95060, USA
| | - David J. Hosken
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy (ESE), University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, PenrynTR10 9EZ, UK
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2
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Arrieta RS, Cornejo P, Mahler B, Llambías PE. A possible case of offspring sex manipulation as result of a biased adult sex ratio. Sci Rep 2024; 14:819. [PMID: 38191894 PMCID: PMC10774364 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-51131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Although random meiosis should prevent the facultative adjustment of offspring sex ratio, theory predicts that females should produce more of the sex with the higher reproductive value. We reported a case of offspring sex ratio manipulation in grass wrens Cistothorus platensis. Males in better body condition would have higher reproductive value than females due to the potential for social polygyny and extra-pair fertilizations. On the other hand, local demography influences reproductive strategies in grass wrens as male abundance affects both social polygyny and extra-pair paternity frequencies. We evaluated whether females bias their brood sex ratio in response to adult sex ratio and nestling body condition (a proxy for female's prospects of producing high-quality males). Females raised more male offspring when males were less abundant in the population (female-biased adult sex ratio). However, we found no relationship between nestling body condition and brood sex ratio, suggesting that females did not bias the brood sex ratio towards males when able to raise nestlings in better body condition. Taken together, our results provide the first suggestive evidence that female birds can manipulate their offspring sex ratio in response to the adult sex ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramiro S Arrieta
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Paula Cornejo
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Bettina Mahler
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, IEGEBA-CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Paulo E Llambías
- Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Áridas, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
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3
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Pap PL, Fülöp A, Adamkova M, Cepak J, Michalkova R, Safran RJ, Stermin AN, Tomasek O, Vágási CI, Vincze O, Wilkins MR, Albrecht T. Selection on multiple sexual signals in two Central and Eastern European populations of the barn swallow. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:11277-11287. [PMID: 31641472 PMCID: PMC6802025 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in intensity and targets of sexual selection on multiple traits has been suggested to play a major role in promoting phenotypic differentiation between populations, although the divergence in selection may depend on year, local conditions or age. In this study, we quantified sexual selection for two putative sexual signals across two Central and East European barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica) populations from Czech Republic and Romania over multiple years. We then related these differences in selection to variation in sexual characters among barn swallow populations. Our results show that tail length and ventral coloration vary between populations, sexes, and age classes (first-time breeders vs. experienced birds). We found that selection on tail length was stronger in first-time breeders than in experienced birds and in males than in females in the Romanian population, while these differences between age groups and sexes were weak in Czech birds. We suggest that the populational difference in selection on tail length might be related to the differences in breeding conditions. Our results show that ventral coloration is darker (i.e., has lower brightness) in the Romanian than in the Czech population, and in experienced birds and males compared with first-time breeders and females, respectively. The sexual difference in ventral coloration may suggest sexual selection on this trait, which is supported by the significant directional selection of ventral coloration in first-time breeding males on laying date. However, after controlling for the confounding effect of wing length and tarsus length, the partial directional selection gradient on this trait turned nonsignificant, suggesting that the advantage of dark ventral coloration in early breeding birds is determined by the correlated traits of body size. These findings show that ventral coloration may be advantageous over the breeding season, but the underlying mechanism of this relationship is not clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter L. Pap
- Evolutionary Ecology GroupHungarian Department of Biology and EcologyBabeş‐Bolyai UniversityCluj NapocaRomania
- MTA‐DE Behavioural Ecology Research GroupDepartment of Evolutionary Zoology and Human BiologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | - Attila Fülöp
- Evolutionary Ecology GroupHungarian Department of Biology and EcologyBabeş‐Bolyai UniversityCluj NapocaRomania
- MTA‐DE Behavioural Ecology Research GroupDepartment of Evolutionary Zoology and Human BiologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Marie Adamkova
- Institute of Vertebrate BiologyCzech Academy of SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
- Department of Botany and ZoologyMasaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | | | - Romana Michalkova
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Rebecca J. Safran
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ColoradoBoulderCOUSA
| | | | - Oldrich Tomasek
- Institute of Vertebrate BiologyCzech Academy of SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Csongor I. Vágási
- Evolutionary Ecology GroupHungarian Department of Biology and EcologyBabeş‐Bolyai UniversityCluj NapocaRomania
- MTA‐DE Behavioural Ecology Research GroupDepartment of Evolutionary Zoology and Human BiologyUniversity of DebrecenDebrecenHungary
| | - Orsolya Vincze
- Evolutionary Ecology GroupHungarian Department of Biology and EcologyBabeş‐Bolyai UniversityCluj NapocaRomania
| | | | - Tomas Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate BiologyCzech Academy of SciencesBrnoCzech Republic
- Department of ZoologyFaculty of ScienceCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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4
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Szász E, Garamszegi LZ, Rosivall B. What is behind the variation in mate quality dependent sex ratio adjustment? - A meta-analysis. OIKOS 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Szász
- Dept of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd Univ; Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C HU-1117 Budapest Hungary
| | - László Zsolt Garamszegi
- Depto de Ecología Evolutiva, Estación Biológica de Donaña-CSIC; Sevilla España
- MTA-ELTE-Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Univ; Budapest Hungary
| | - Balázs Rosivall
- Dept of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd Univ; Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C HU-1117 Budapest Hungary
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5
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Costanzo A, Rubolini D, Ambrosini R, Caprioli M, Gatti E, Romano A, Parolini M, Gianfranceschi L, Saino N. Association between extra-pair paternity and nestling sex and condition in the barn swallow. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2552-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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6
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Costanzo A, Romano A, Ambrosini R, Parolini M, Rubolini D, Caprioli M, Corti M, Canova L, Saino N. Barn swallow antipredator behavior covaries with melanic coloration and predicts survival. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Building Biophore, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Caprioli
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Corti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli, Pavia, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, via Celoria, Milan, Italy
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7
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Arai E, Hasegawa M, Ito S, Wakamatsu K. Sex allocation based on maternal body size in Japanese barn swallows. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2017.1336118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emi Arai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Sokendai (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan
| | - Masaru Hasegawa
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems, Sokendai (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan
| | - Shosuke Ito
- Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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8
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Hasegawa M, Arai E, Nakamura M. Experimental manipulation of female tail length did not cause differential allocation by males in the barn swallow. Ethology 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Hasegawa
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems; Sokendai (the Graduate University for Advanced Studies); Miura-gun Japan
| | - Emi Arai
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems; Sokendai (the Graduate University for Advanced Studies); Miura-gun Japan
| | - Masahiko Nakamura
- Laboratory of Animal Ecology; Department of Biology; Joetsu University of Education; Joetsu-shi Japan
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9
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Costanzo A, Ambrosini R, Caprioli M, Gatti E, Parolini M, Romano A, Rubolini D, Gianfranceschi L, Saino N. Extrapair fertilizations vary with female traits and pair composition, besides male attractiveness, in barn swallows. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Parolini M, Romano A, Costanzo A, Khoriauli L, Santagostino M, Nergadze SG, Canova L, Rubolini D, Giulotto E, Saino N. Telomere length is reflected by plumage coloration and predicts seasonal reproductive success in the barn swallow. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:6100-6109. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Lela Khoriauli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | | | | | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
| | - Elena Giulotto
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology University of Pavia Pavia Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of Milan Milan Italy
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11
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Costanzo A, Ambrosini R, Caprioli M, Gatti E, Parolini M, Canova L, Rubolini D, Romano A, Gianfranceschi L, Saino N. Lifetime reproductive success, selection on lifespan, and multiple sexual ornaments in male European barn swallows. Evolution 2017; 71:2457-2468. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Costanzo
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT); University of Milano Bicocca; Piazza della Scienza, 1, I-20126 Milan Italy
| | - Manuela Caprioli
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Emanuele Gatti
- Department of Biosciences; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Luca Canova
- Department of Chemistry; Via Taramelli 12, I-27100 Pavia Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
| | - Luca Gianfranceschi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT); University of Milano Bicocca; Piazza della Scienza, 1, I-20126 Milan Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy; University of Milan; via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milan Italy
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12
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Pischedda A, Chippindale AK. Direct benefits of choosing a high-fitness mate can offset the indirect costs associated with intralocus sexual conflict. Evolution 2017; 71:1710-1718. [PMID: 28369895 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13240] [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: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Intralocus sexual conflict generates a cost to mate choice: high-fitness partners transmit genetic variation that confers lower fitness to offspring of the opposite sex. Our earlier work in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, revealed that these indirect genetic costs were sufficient to reverse potential "good genes" benefits of sexual selection. However, mate choice can also confer direct fitness benefits by inducing larger numbers of progeny. Here, we consider whether direct benefits through enhanced fertility could offset the costs associated with intralocus sexual conflict in D. melanogaster. Using hemiclonal analysis, we found that females mated to high-fitness males produced 11% more offspring compared to those mated to low-fitness males, and high-fitness females produced 34% more offspring than low-fitness females. These direct benefits more than offset the reduction in offspring fitness caused by intralocus sexual conflict, creating a net fitness benefit for each sex to pairing with a high-fitness partner. Our findings highlight the need to consider both direct and indirect effects when investigating the fitness impacts of mate choice. Direct fitness benefits may shelter sexually antagonistic alleles from selection, suggesting a novel mechanism for the maintenance of fitness variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Pischedda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi, 39762
| | - Adam K Chippindale
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6, Canada
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13
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Corti M, Bazzi G, Costanzo A, Podofillini S, Saino N, Rubolini D, Romano A. Behavioural stress response and melanin-based plumage colouration in barn swallow nestlings. BEHAVIOUR 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Consistent and correlated inter-individual differences in behaviours, the so-called ‘personalities’, have been identified in many vertebrates. The ability to respond to stressful events is part of personalities and can have important fitness consequences, as it determines how individuals cope with environmental challenges. As a consequence of pleiotropic effects of genes involved in several functions, inter-individual differences in behavioural responses can be associated with phenotypic traits, like melanin-based plumage colouration in birds. We examined the association between three proxies of the behavioural stress response and breast plumage colouration in barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) nestlings. We found that nestling behavioural responses were consistent within individuals and similar among siblings, thus suggesting that these behaviours may contribute to define individual ‘personalities’. However, nestling behavioural stress response was not significantly predicted by variation in breast plumage colouration, indicating that in juveniles of this species melanin-based colouration does not convey to conspecifics reliable information on individual ability to cope with stressful events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Corti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gaia Bazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Podofillini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via G. Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy
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14
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Costanzo A, Panseri S, Giorgi A, Romano A, Caprioli M, Saino N. The Odour of Sex: Sex-Related Differences in Volatile Compound Composition among Barn Swallow Eggs Carrying Embryos of Either Sex. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0165055. [PMID: 27851741 PMCID: PMC5112806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian communication has been traditionally believed to be mainly mediated by visual and auditory channels. However, an increasing number of studies are disclosing the role of olfaction in the interaction of birds with their social environment and with other species, as well as in other behaviors such as nest recognition, food location and navigation. Olfaction has also been suggested to play a role in parent-offspring communication not only in the post- but also in the pre-hatching period. Volatile compounds produced during embryogenesis and passively released through the eggshell pores may indeed represent the only cue at parents' disposal to assess offspring quality, including the sex composition of their clutch before hatching. In turn, sex identification before hatching may mediate adaptive strategies of allocation to either sex. In the present study, we analyzed odour composition of barn swallow eggs incubated in their nest in order to identify any sex-related differences in volatile compounds emitted. For the first time in any bird species, we also investigated whether odour composition is associated with relatedness. The evidence of differences in odour composition among eggs containing embryos of either sex indicates that parents have a cue to identify their brood sex composition even before hatching which can be used to modulate their behavior accordingly. Moreover, odour similarity within nests may represent the prerequisite for kin recognition in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Panseri
- Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Annamaria Giorgi
- Centre for Applied Studies in the Sustainable Management and Protection of the Mountain Environment, Ge.S.Di.Mont., University of Milan, Edolo, Brescia, Italy
| | - Andrea Romano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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15
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Costanzo A, Parolini M, Bazzi G, Khoriauli L, Santagostino M, Possenti CD, Romano A, Nergadze SG, Rubolini D, Giulotto E, Saino N. Brood size, telomere length, and parent-offspring color signaling in barn swallows. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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Romano A, Costanzo A, Rubolini D, Saino N, Møller AP. Geographical and seasonal variation in the intensity of sexual selection in the barn swallowHirundo rustica: a meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:1582-1600. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Romano
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze; Università degli Studi di Milano; via Celoria 26 I-20133 Milano Italy
| | - Alessandra Costanzo
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze; Università degli Studi di Milano; via Celoria 26 I-20133 Milano Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze; Università degli Studi di Milano; via Celoria 26 I-20133 Milano Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze; Università degli Studi di Milano; via Celoria 26 I-20133 Milano Italy
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech; Université Paris-Saclay; F-91400 Orsay France
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Romano A, Costanzo A, Caprioli M, Parolini M, Ambrosini R, Rubolini D, Saino N. Better-surviving barn swallow mothers produce more and better-surviving sons. Evolution 2016; 70:1120-8. [PMID: 26990898 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sex allocation theory predicts that parents are selected to bias their progeny sex ratio (SR) toward the sex that will benefit the most from parental quality. Because parental quality may differentially affect survival of sons and daughters, a pivotal test of the adaptive value of SR adjustment is whether parents overproduce offspring of the sex that accrues larger fitness advantages from high parental quality. However, this crucial test of the long-term fitness consequences of sex allocation decisions has seldom been performed. In this study of the barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), we showed a positive correlation between the proportion of sons and maternal annual survival. We then experimentally demonstrated that this association did not depend on the differential costs of rearing offspring of either sex. Finally, we showed that maternal lifespan positively predicted lifespan of sons but not of daughters. Because in barn swallows lifespan is a strong determinant of lifetime reproductive success, the results suggest that mothers overproduce offspring of the sex that benefits the most from maternal quality. Hence, irrespective of mechanisms causing the SR bias and mother-son covariation in lifespan, we provide strong evidence that sex allocation decisions of mothers can highly impact on their lifetime fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Romano
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, I-20133, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Manuela Caprioli
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, I-20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Parolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, I-20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, I-20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, I-20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Saino
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, I-20133, Milan, Italy.
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Bonderud E, Flood N, Van Hamme J, Boyda C, Reudink M. Female mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) paired to more colourful males produce male-biased broods. BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex allocation theory predicts that females should bias the sex ratio of their offspring in response to differences in the reproductive value of sons versus daughters. Consistent with this prediction, females of many species appear to bias offspring sex ratios in response to mate attractiveness and condition. Male mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) display full body UV-blue structural plumage colouration, which is associated with attractiveness, condition, and reproductive success. Over four breeding seasons, we found females paired with more colourful males produced increasingly male-biased broods and provisioned offspring at a higher rate. Surprisingly, however, we also found females with duller plumage and those mated to first-year males produced more male-biased broods. These results provide support for sex allocation in mountain bluebirds and suggest female reproductive decisions may be influenced by the attractiveness of her mate. However, this system is clearly complex and more work is needed to understand the roles of male age and female colouration in the signalling systems of mountain bluebirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica S. Bonderud
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada
| | - Nancy J. Flood
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada
| | | | - Cameron A. W. Boyda
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew W. Reudink
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada
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