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ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS AND THE MAINTENANCE OF SEX IN A FRESHWATER SNAIL
Author(s) -
Lively Curtis M.,
Lyons Emily J.,
Peters A. D.,
Jokela Jukka
Publication year - 1998
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/j.1558-5646.1998.tb02029.x
Subject(s) - biology , snail , asexual reproduction , competition (biology) , sexual reproduction , asexuality , freshwater snail , reproduction , survivorship curve , ecology , mutation accumulation , zoology , mutation rate , genetics , human sexuality , gene , gender studies , cancer , sociology
Synergism among mutations can lead to an advantage to sexual reproduction, provided mutation rates are high enough (the mutational deterministic hypothesis). Here we tested the idea that competition for food can increase the advantage to sexual reproduction, perhaps by increasing the synergism among mutations in asexual individuals. We compared the survivorship of sexual and asexual snails ( Potamopyrgus antipodarum ) under two treatments: starved and fed. We predicted higher mortality for asexual snails when starved, but found that sexual and asexual individuals survived at the same rate, independent of treatment. These results suggest that the distribution of sex in this snail may not be explained by variation in competition among populations.