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Experimental evolution reveals balancing selection underlying coexistence of alternative male reproductive phenotypes
Author(s) -
Skrzynecka Anna M.,
Radwan Jacek
Publication year - 2016
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.13038
Subject(s) - biology , selection (genetic algorithm) , balancing selection , evolutionary biology , replicate , sexual selection , experimental evolution , phenotype , genetics , zoology , genetic variation , gene , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science
Heritable alternative reproductive phenotypes (ARPs), which differ in traits associated with competition for mates, occur across taxa. If polymorphism in the genes underlying ARPs is maintained by balancing selection, selection should return ARP proportions to their equilibrium if that equilibrium is perturbed. Here, we used an experimental evolution approach to directly test this prediction in male Rhizoglyphus robini , in which two heritable morphs occur: armored fighters and more female‐like, benign scramblers. Using selection lines nearly fixed for male morph, we constructed replicate populations consisting of 50% or 94% fighters, and allowed them to evolve for 14 generations in two types of environment: simple or spatially complex. We found that in both types of populations, the proportion of fighters converged on values within a narrow range of 0.70–0.83, although the rate of convergence was slower in the complex environment. Our results thus demonstrate balancing selection acting on polymorphism(s) underlying ARPs.