Testing the genetics underlying the co-evolution of mate choice and ornament in the wild.

Full Abstract

One of the most debated questions in evolutionary biology is whether female choice of males with exaggerated sexual displays can evolve as a correlated response to selection acting on genes coding for male attractiveness or high overall viability. To date, empirical studies have provided support for parts of this scenario, but evidence for all key genetic components in a natural population is lacking. Here we use animal-model quantitative genetic analysis on data from over 8,500 collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) followed for 24 years to quantify all of the key genetic requirements of both fisherian and 'good-genes' models on sexual selection in the wild. We found significant additive genetic variances of all the main components:
male ornament (forehead patch size), female mate choice for this ornament, male fitness and female fitness. However, when the necessary genetic correlations between these components were taken into account, the estimated strength of indirect sexual selection on female mate choice was negligible. Our results show that the combined effect of environmental influences on several components reduces the potential for indirect sexual selection in the wild. This study provides insight into the field of sexual selection by showing that genes coding for mate choice for an ornament probably evolve by their own pathways instead of 'hitchhiking' with genes coding for the ornament.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Qvarnström, Anna (A); Brommer, Jon E (JE); Gustafsson, Lars (L);

Affiliation: Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. anna.qvarnstrom(-atsign-)ebc.uu.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Nature (Nature), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 441 (issue 7089) : pp 84-6

Dates: Created 2006/05/04; Completed 2006/05/31; Revised 2007/01/11;

PMID: 16672970, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Nature. 2006 Dec 14;444(7121):E16; discussion E16-7. (PMID: 17167425)

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals
Animals, Wild
Choice Behavior - physiology
Evolution
Female
Male

Male
Models, Biological
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology
Songbirds - anatomy & histology; genetics; physiology
Sweden

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.