Sexual selection enables long-term coexistence despite ecological equivalence

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary Biology
• Theoretical Ecology
• Speciation

Background:

• Sexual preferences are crucial for species boundaries but theoretically limited in maintaining biodiversity.
• Long-term coexistence typically requires ecological differentiation, not just sexual selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the view that sexual preferences alone cannot maintain biodiversity.
• To investigate the role of sexual selection in species coexistence within overlapping ranges.

Main Methods:

• Generalizing a standard sexual selection model.
• Incorporating spatial variation in local carrying capacity.
• Including mate-search costs for females.

Main Results:

• Sexual preferences, combined with spatial variation and mate-search costs, can single-handedly maintain species coexistence.
• Coexistence is possible even with minimal, empirically subtle spatial variation.

Conclusions:

• Sexual selection alone can promote the long-term coexistence of ecologically equivalent species.
• This provides a novel theoretical explanation for the maintenance of species diversity.