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The twofold cost of sex unfolded

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Author

Summary, in English

Question: Considering ecological factors and life history, how easy is it for sexual reproduction (as a strategy) to invade and persist in a population where all individuals are reproducing asexually? Mathematical method: We use a population growth equation that despite its simplicity captures several relevant ecological parameters: age-specific survival, differential birth rates, as well as both within-strategy and between-strategy competition. We perform invasion analysis to reach conclusions about the stability of the two evolutionary strategies. Key assumptions: Sexual and asexual reproduction can be thought of as a strategy game. Instead of focusing on the genetic advantages of sexual reproduction, we explore the ecological and demographic conditions under which the two main reproductive strategies are maintained. Conclusions: From an ecological point of view, sexual reproduction remains enigmatic only if the sexual strategy implies monogamy, there are no ecological interactions between the alternative reproductive strategies, and the life histories of both asexual and sexual strategies are limited to semelparity. Relaxation of those very restrictive ecological conditions allows for the co-existence of sexual and asexual reproduction as well as mutual invasion of the two strategies.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

1119-1129

Publication/Series

Evolutionary Ecology Research

Volume

9

Issue

7

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Evolutionary Ecology Ltd

Topic

  • Biological Sciences

Keywords

  • population
  • life history
  • invasion
  • co-existence
  • evolution of sex
  • dynamics

Status

Published

Research group

  • Theoretical Population Ecology and Evolution Group

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1522-0613