An eco-evolutionary feedback loop between population dynamics and fighter expression affects the evolution of alternative reproductive tactics.

ABSTRACT: Surprisingly, little is known about how eco-evolutionary feedback loops affect trait dynamics within a single population. Polymorphisms of discrete alternative phenotypes present ideal test beds to investigate this, as the alternative phenotypes typically exhibit contrasting demographic rates mediated through frequency or density dependence, and are thus differentially affected by selection. Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs), like male fighters and sneakers, are an extreme form of discrete phenotype expression and occur across many taxa. Fighters possess weapons for male-male competition over access to mates, whereas sneakers are defenceless but adopt tactics like female-mimicking. Because fighters in some species mortally injure conspecifics, this raises the question whether fighter

SUBMITTER: Croll JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7380021 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature