Evolutionary optimum for male sexual traits characterized using the multivariate Robertson-Price Identity.

ABSTRACT: Phenotypes tend to remain relatively constant in natural populations, suggesting a limit to trait evolution. Although stationary phenotypes suggest stabilizing selection, directional selection is more commonly reported. However, selection on phenotypes will have no evolutionary consequence if the traits do not genetically covary with fitness, a covariance known as the Robertson-Price Identity. The nature of this genetic covariance determines if phenotypes will evolve directionally or whether they reside at an evolutionary optimum. Here, we show how a set of traits can be shown to be under net stabilizing selection through an application of the multivariate Robertson-Price Identity. We characterize how a suite of male sexual displays genetically covaries with fitness in a population of Dros

SUBMITTER: Delcourt M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3387100 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature