The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations
Abstract Sexual selection is a key evolutionary force but varies widely between populations. Two key factors that influence sexual selection are the extent to which females copulate with multiple males (polyandry) and variation in the social environment. Increasing research demonstrates populations...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10057 |
| _version_ | 1797776586298097664 |
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| author | Grant C. McDonald |
| author_facet | Grant C. McDonald |
| author_sort | Grant C. McDonald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Sexual selection is a key evolutionary force but varies widely between populations. Two key factors that influence sexual selection are the extent to which females copulate with multiple males (polyandry) and variation in the social environment. Increasing research demonstrates populations are structured by complex socio‐sexual networks, and the structure of these networks can influence sexual selection by shaping the relationship between male precopulatory mating success and the intensity of postcopulatory competition. However, comparatively less attention has been dedicated to the influence of group structure on sexual selection and how differences in the size of groups may impact on the relative force of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations. The presence of groups (i.e., group structure) and the size of groups varies widely in nature and forms an implicit part of much experimental sexual selection research under laboratory conditions. Here I use simulations of mating competition within populations that vary in the size of groups they contain, to show that variation in group size, and in particular small groups, can influence sexual selection. Specifically, I show that null expectations for the operation of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection is governed by the size of groups within populations because smaller group sizes constrain the structure of sexual networks leading to reinforcing episodes of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection. Given broad variation in group structure in nature and the tendency for experimental sexual selection research to study replicate small groups, these effects have implications for our understanding of the operation of sexual selection in polyandrous populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:51:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-575fecae8be4461b967b4023c4649a3b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:51:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-575fecae8be4461b967b4023c4649a3b2023-07-20T08:50:55ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-05-01135n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10057The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populationsGrant C. McDonald0Department of Ecology University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Budapest HungaryAbstract Sexual selection is a key evolutionary force but varies widely between populations. Two key factors that influence sexual selection are the extent to which females copulate with multiple males (polyandry) and variation in the social environment. Increasing research demonstrates populations are structured by complex socio‐sexual networks, and the structure of these networks can influence sexual selection by shaping the relationship between male precopulatory mating success and the intensity of postcopulatory competition. However, comparatively less attention has been dedicated to the influence of group structure on sexual selection and how differences in the size of groups may impact on the relative force of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations. The presence of groups (i.e., group structure) and the size of groups varies widely in nature and forms an implicit part of much experimental sexual selection research under laboratory conditions. Here I use simulations of mating competition within populations that vary in the size of groups they contain, to show that variation in group size, and in particular small groups, can influence sexual selection. Specifically, I show that null expectations for the operation of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection is governed by the size of groups within populations because smaller group sizes constrain the structure of sexual networks leading to reinforcing episodes of pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection. Given broad variation in group structure in nature and the tendency for experimental sexual selection research to study replicate small groups, these effects have implications for our understanding of the operation of sexual selection in polyandrous populations.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10057polyandrysexual networksexual selectionsocial organizationsperm competition |
| spellingShingle | Grant C. McDonald The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations Ecology and Evolution polyandry sexual network sexual selection social organization sperm competition |
| title | The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| title_full | The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| title_fullStr | The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| title_short | The impact of small groups on pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| title_sort | impact of small groups on pre and postcopulatory sexual selection in polyandrous populations |
| topic | polyandry sexual network sexual selection social organization sperm competition |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10057 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT grantcmcdonald theimpactofsmallgroupsonpreandpostcopulatorysexualselectioninpolyandrouspopulations AT grantcmcdonald impactofsmallgroupsonpreandpostcopulatorysexualselectioninpolyandrouspopulations |