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PROMISCUITY, SEXUAL SELECTION, AND GENETIC DIVERSITY: A REPLY TO SPURGIN
Author(s) -
Lifjeld Jan T.,
Gohli Jostein,
Johnsen Arild
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/evo.12211
Subject(s) - promiscuity , biology , sexual selection , passerine , evolutionary biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , genetic diversity , mating preferences , perspective (graphical) , diversity (politics) , population , genetics , mate choice , mating , zoology , ecology , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , anthropology
We recently reported a positive association between female promiscuity and genetic diversity across passerine birds, and launched the hypothesis that female promiscuity acts as a balancing selection, pressure maintaining genetic diversity in populations (Gohli et al. [Gohli, J., 2013]). Spurgin ([Spurgin, L. G., 2013]) questions both our analyses and interpretations. While we agree that the hypothesis needs more comprehensive empirical testing, we find his specific points of criticism unjustified. In a more general perspective, we call for a more explicit recognition of female mating preferences as mechanisms of selection in population genetics theory.