Sexual morph specialisation in a trioecious nematode balances opposing selective forces.

ABSTRACT: The coexistence of different mating strategies, whereby a species can reproduce both by selfing and outcrossing, is an evolutionary enigma. Theory predicts two predominant stable mating states: outcrossing with strong inbreeding depression or selfing with weak inbreeding depression. As these two mating strategies are subject to opposing selective forces, mixed breeding systems are thought to be a rare transitory state yet can persist even after multiple speciation events. We hypothesise that if each mating strategy plays a distinctive role during some part of the species life history, opposing selective pressures could be balanced, permitting the stable co-existence of selfing and outcrossing sexual morphs. In this scenario, we would expect each morph to be specialised in their respective

SUBMITTER: Adams S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9013718 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature