How does breeding system variation modulate sexual antagonism?
The study of sexually antagonistic (SA) traits remains largely limited to dioecious (separate sex), mobile animals. However, the occurrence of sexual conflict is restricted neither by breeding system (the mode of sexual reproduction, e.g. dioecy or hermaphroditism) nor by sessility. Here, we synthesize how variation in breeding system can affect the evolution and expression of intra- and inter-locus sexual conflicts in plants and animals. We predict that, in hermaphrodites, SA traits will (i) display lower levels of polymorphism; (ii) respond more quickly to selection; and (iii) involve unique forms of interlocus conflict over sex allocation, mating roles and selfing rates. Explicit modelling and empirical tests in a broader range of breeding systems are necessary to obtain a general understanding of the evolution of SA traits.
Bedhomme
Stéphanie
S
Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Hüfferstrasse 1, 48149 Münster, Germany. stebed@upvnet.upv.es
Bernasconi
Giorgina
G
Koene
Joris M
JM
Lankinen
Asa
A
Arathi
H S
HS
Michiels
Nico K
NK
Anthes
Nils
N
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001947:Breeding; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012730:Sex Chromosomes; D012737:Sex Factors