Experimental sexual selection affects the evolution of physiological and life‐history traits

Garlovsky, Martin D.; Holman, Luke; Brooks, Andrew L.; Novicic, Zorana K.; Snook, Rhonda R.

Abstract

Sexual selection and sexual conflict are expected to affect all aspects of the phenotype, not only traits that are directly involved in reproduction. Here, we show coordinated evolution of multiple physiological and life-history traits in response to long-term experimental manipulation of the mating system in populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Development time was extended under polyandry relative to monogamy in both sexes, potentially due to higher investment in traits linked to sexual selection and sexual conflict. Individuals (especially males) evolving under polyandry had higher metabolic rates and locomotor activity than those evolving under monogamy. Polyandry individuals also invested more in metabolites associated with increased endurance capacity and efficient energy metabolism and regulation, namely lipids and glycogen. Finally, polyandry males were less desiccation- and starvation resistant than monogamy males, suggesting trade-offs between resistance and sexually selected traits. Our results provide experimental evidence that mating systems can impose selection that influences the evolution of non-sexual phenotypes such as development, activity, metabolism and nutrient homeostasis.

Citation

Garlovsky, M. D., Holman, L., Brooks, A. L., Novicic, Z. K., & Snook, R. R. (2022). Experimental sexual selection affects the evolution of physiological and life‐history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 35(5), 742-751. https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.14003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 9, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Apr 5, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Deposit Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 25, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
• Print ISSN: 1010-061X
• Electronic ISSN: 1420-9101
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 742-751
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.14003
• Keywords: experimental evolution, life-history evolution, metabolism, physiology, polyandry, sexual selection, trade-offs
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2862819