Reproductive mode and the shifting arenas of evolutionary conflict.
In sexually reproducing organisms, the genetic interests of individuals are not perfectly aligned. Conflicts among family members are prevalent since interactions involve the transfer of limited resources between interdependent players. Intrafamilial conflict has traditionally been considered along three major axes: between the sexes, between parents and offspring, and between siblings. In these interactions, conflict is expected over traits in which the resulting phenotypic value is determined by multiple family members who have only partially overlapping fitness optima. We focus on four major categories of animal reproductive mode (broadcast spawning, egg laying, live bearing, and live bearing with matrotrophy) and identify the shared phenotypes or traits over which conflict is expected, and then review the empirical literature for evidence of their occurrence. Major transitions among reproductive mode, such as a shift from external to internal fertilization, an increase in egg-retention time, modifications of embryos and mothers for nutrient transfer, the evolution of postnatal parental care, and increased interaction with the kin network, mark key shifts that both change and expand the arenas in which conflict is played out.
Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.|Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, California.
Andrew I
AI
Furness
Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.
Keenan R
KR
Morrison
Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.|Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.
Teri J
TJ
Orr
Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.
Jeff D
JD
Arendt
Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California.
David N
DN
Reznick
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
antagonistic coevolution; genomic imprinting; inclusive fitness; kinship theory; mating system; matrotrophy; oviparity; parent-offspring conflict; placenta; sexual conflict; siblicide; viviparity