Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory
Sexual selection is widespread if not ubiquitous in hermaphroditic organisms. Although many phenomena that have been described as sexual selection in gonochores, (e.g. harem polygamy, multiple mating, elaborate courtship, even secondary sexual characters) can be found in some hermaphrodites, what is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
2013-08-01
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| Series: | Current Zoology |
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| Online Access: | http://www.currentzoology.org/paperdetail.asp?id=12265 |
| _version_ | 1818517940368048128 |
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| author | Janet L. LEONARD |
| author_facet | Janet L. LEONARD |
| author_sort | Janet L. LEONARD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sexual selection is widespread if not ubiquitous in hermaphroditic organisms. Although many phenomena that have been described as sexual selection in gonochores, (e.g. harem polygamy, multiple mating, elaborate courtship, even secondary sexual characters) can be found in some hermaphrodites, what is more interesting is the ways in which sexual selection in hermaphrodites may differ from dioecious taxa. In hermaphrodites, an individual’s mating success includes its success from both sexual roles. Secondly, in many simultaneously hermaphroditic taxa there is strong evidence of sexual selection and yet the operational sex ratio is 1:1, by definition. Many simultaneous hermaphrodites have elaborate courtship and genital anatomy, suggesting sexual selection plays an important role in reproductive success. Sperm competition and cryptic female choice mean that the number of mates acquired is not necessarily a predictor of reproductive success. Even in simultaneous hermaphrodites with reciprocal mating, variance in reproductive success through the male role and through the female role may differ in a population. Moreover hermaphrodites may choose to emphasize one sexual role over the other. Data suggest that the preferred role varies in hermaphrodites, which creates an opportunity to test fundamental predictions and assumptions of sexual selection theory. Hermaphrodites may vary their emphasis on one sexual role over the other either developmentally or behaviorally in response to environmental or social parameters. How they use this capability in acquiring more or higher quality mates still requires study [Current Zoology 59 (4): 579–588, 2013]. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:03:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f451f61276ab4a658270c99c21b119f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-5507 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T01:03:03Z |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
| publisher | Oxford University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-f451f61276ab4a658270c99c21b119f92022-12-22T01:26:16ZengOxford University PressCurrent Zoology1674-55072013-08-01594579588Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theoryJanet L. LEONARDSexual selection is widespread if not ubiquitous in hermaphroditic organisms. Although many phenomena that have been described as sexual selection in gonochores, (e.g. harem polygamy, multiple mating, elaborate courtship, even secondary sexual characters) can be found in some hermaphrodites, what is more interesting is the ways in which sexual selection in hermaphrodites may differ from dioecious taxa. In hermaphrodites, an individual’s mating success includes its success from both sexual roles. Secondly, in many simultaneously hermaphroditic taxa there is strong evidence of sexual selection and yet the operational sex ratio is 1:1, by definition. Many simultaneous hermaphrodites have elaborate courtship and genital anatomy, suggesting sexual selection plays an important role in reproductive success. Sperm competition and cryptic female choice mean that the number of mates acquired is not necessarily a predictor of reproductive success. Even in simultaneous hermaphrodites with reciprocal mating, variance in reproductive success through the male role and through the female role may differ in a population. Moreover hermaphrodites may choose to emphasize one sexual role over the other. Data suggest that the preferred role varies in hermaphrodites, which creates an opportunity to test fundamental predictions and assumptions of sexual selection theory. Hermaphrodites may vary their emphasis on one sexual role over the other either developmentally or behaviorally in response to environmental or social parameters. How they use this capability in acquiring more or higher quality mates still requires study [Current Zoology 59 (4): 579–588, 2013].http://www.currentzoology.org/paperdetail.asp?id=12265Sexual selectionHermaphroditesMate choiceReproductive success |
| spellingShingle | Janet L. LEONARD Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory Current Zoology Sexual selection Hermaphrodites Mate choice Reproductive success |
| title | Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory |
| title_full | Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory |
| title_fullStr | Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory |
| title_short | Sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms: Testing theory |
| title_sort | sexual selection and hermaphroditic organisms testing theory |
| topic | Sexual selection Hermaphrodites Mate choice Reproductive success |
| url | http://www.currentzoology.org/paperdetail.asp?id=12265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janetlleonard sexualselectionandhermaphroditicorganismstestingtheory |