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SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AND PARASITE‐MEDIATED SEXUAL SELECTION
Author(s) -
Knell Robert J.
Publication year - 1999
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.1558-5646.1999.tb05389.x
Subject(s) - biology , virulence , parasite hosting , mating , sexual selection , selection (genetic algorithm) , sexually transmitted disease , host (biology) , sexual behavior , virology , zoology , genetics , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , gene , developmental psychology , psychology , syphilis , artificial intelligence , world wide web , computer science
Few studies have investigated the consequences of parasite‐mediated sexual selection on the parasites involved. In some cases parasite‐mediated sexual selection could lead to increased virulence, but I develop a simple model that shows that, if a parasite is sexually transmitted (i.e., is a sexually transmitted disease, or STD) and if mating success of the host is adversely affected by the parasite, then less virulent STDs will be selected for because transmission of the STD depends on the mating success of the host. This selection for reduced virulence could have important consequences for the role of STDs in sexual selection.