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Stronger net selection on males across animals
Lennart Winkler1, Maria Moiron2, Edward H Morrow3
1Applied Zoology, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
Elife
|November 17, 2021
Summary
Sexual selection drives sex differences and may help species adapt to environmental change. This occurs when sexual and natural selection align, with stronger net selection on males, supporting adaptation with low demographic cost.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Sexual selection
- Eco-evolutionary dynamics
Background:
- Sexual selection is a primary driver of sex differences.
- The role of sexual selection in adaptive potential to environmental change is under-explored.
- Theory suggests sexual selection aids adaptation if aligned with natural selection and stronger in males.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the eco-evolutionary dynamics of sexual selection.
- To test if net selection is stronger in males and associated with sexual selection.
- To determine if sexual selection enhances adaptive potential to environmental change.
Main Methods:
- Comparative approach used to analyze sex differences in selection.
- Examined the relationship between sexual selection and sex-specific selection strength.
- Assessed the alignment of sexual and natural selection.
Main Results:
- Net selection is significantly stronger in males.
- Preliminary evidence suggests this male-biased selection is linked to sexual selection.
- Findings support the hypothesis that males face a more stressful environment due to gene expression.
Conclusions:
- Sexual selection may bolster adaptation by enabling species to track environmental changes more efficiently.
- The study supports a key assumption for sexual selection promoting adaptation.
- Male-biased selection, driven by sexual selection, could enhance population resilience.
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