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Transient polymorphisms in parental care strategies drive divergence of sex roles

Author

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  • Xiaoyan Long

    (University of Groningen
    University of Freiburg)

  • Franz J. Weissing

    (University of Groningen)

Abstract

The parental roles of males and females differ considerably between and within species. By means of individual-based evolutionary simulations, we strive to explain this diversity. We show that the conflict between the sexes creates a sex bias (towards maternal or paternal care), even if the two sexes are initially identical. When including sexual selection, there are two outcomes: either female mate choice and maternal care or no mate choice and paternal care. Interestingly, the care pattern drives sexual selection and not vice versa. Longer-term simulations exhibit rapid switches between alternative parental care patterns, even in constant environments. Hence, the evolutionary lability of sex roles observed in phylogenetic studies is not necessarily caused by external changes. Overall, our findings are in striking contrast to the predictions of mathematical models. We show that the discrepancies are caused by transient within-sex polymorphisms in parental strategies, a factor largely neglected in current sex-role theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyan Long & Franz J. Weissing, 2023. "Transient polymorphisms in parental care strategies drive divergence of sex roles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42607-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42607-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lutz Fromhage & Michael D. Jennions, 2016. "Coevolution of parental investment and sexually selected traits drives sex-role divergence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, November.
    2. McElreath, Richard & Boyd, Robert, 2007. "Mathematical Models of Social Evolution," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226558264.
    3. Marten Scheffer & Steve Carpenter & Jonathan A. Foley & Carl Folke & Brian Walker, 2001. "Catastrophic shifts in ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 591-596, October.
    4. Y. Ren & T. T. M. Palstra & D. I. Khomskii & E. Pellegrin & A. A. Nugroho & A. A. Menovsky & G. A. Sawatzky, 1998. "Temperature-induced magnetization reversal in a YVO3 single crystal," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6710), pages 441-444, December.
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