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Visually Sexing Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Ludovicianus) Using Plumage Coloration and Pattern

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Sex-ratio distortion driven by migration loads.

Xin-Sheng Hu¹, Francis C Yeh, Fangliang He

¹Department of Renewable Resources, 751 General Services Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2H1. xin-sheng.hu@ualberta.ca

Theoretical Population Biology

|October 2, 2007

Summary

Migration load influences sex ratios in plants by introducing maladaptive genes. This study models how gene flow shapes primary and secondary sex ratios in dioecious plants.

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Area of Science:

Population Genetics
Evolutionary Biology
Plant Reproduction

Background:

Migration load is a known driver of population evolution.
Its role in shaping sex ratios in natural populations remains underexplored.
Sex determination in plants often involves sex chromosomes (e.g., XX-XY systems).

Purpose of the Study:

To model how migration load affects primary and secondary sex ratios in dioecious plants.
To investigate the influence of gametophyte and sporophyte selection on sex ratios.
To explore the impact of migrating seed and pollen gene content on sex ratio evolution.

Main Methods:

Development of a single-locus population genetics model.
Simulation of gene flow and selection at different life stages (gametophyte, sporophyte).
Analysis of sex-linked gene effects from immigrating gametes and seeds.

Main Results:

Migration load can generate diverse sex ratios, from female-biased to male-biased.
Gametophyte selection (e.g., ovule abortion, gene purging) alters primary sex ratios.
Maladaptive genes in migrating pollen/seeds can lead to biased secondary sex ratios (female-biased from males, male-biased from females).
Y-chromosome effects from migrants can enhance female-biased sex ratios.

Conclusions:

Migration load provides an alternative framework for understanding biased sex ratios.
Gene flow and selection interact to shape plant sex ratios.
The genetic content of migrants significantly impacts recipient population sex ratios.