title: The evolution of sex ratios and sex-determining systems.
abstract: Sex determination is a fundamental process governed by diverse mechanisms. Sex ratio selection is commonly implicated in the evolution of sex-determining systems, although formal models are rare. Here, we argue that, although sex ratio selection can induce shifts in sex determination, genomic conflicts between parents and offspring can explain why single-factor systems (e.g. XY/XX or ZW/ZZ) are common even in species that experience selection for biased sex ratios. Importantly, evolutionary shifts in sex determination do not always result in the biased production of sons and daughters sensu sex ratio theory. Thus, equal sex ratios might be an emergent character of sex-determining systems even when biased sex ratios are favored by selection.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uller
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wapstra
authors.forename: Leo W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Beukeboom
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Komdeur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D017753:Ecosystem; D005838:Genotype; D008954:Models, Biological; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D012744:Sex Ratio