Lew, Timothy A, Morrow, Edward H and Rice, William R (2006) Standing genetic variance for female resistance to harm from males and its relationship to intralocus sexual conflict. Evolution, 60 (1). pp. 97-105. ISSN 1558-5646

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Abstract

Interlocus sexual conflict theory predicts that some male adaptations are harmful to their mates. Females are therefore expected to evolve resistance to this harm. Using cytogenetic cloning techniques, we tested for heritable genetic variation among females for resistance to harm from males and determined whether propensity to remate, female body size, and intralocus conflict contributes to this variation. We found low but significant heritability for female resistance, but this variation accounted for more than half of the standing genetic variation for net fitness among females. We found no association between female resistance and female body size or level of intralocus sexual conflict. Reluctance to remate was found to be an important factor contributing to the female resistance phenotype, and we found a positive selection gradient on this trait. However, we observed only a nonsignificant positive correlation between a female's resistance and her net fitness. One factor contributing to the observed nominal level of selection on female resistance was that males cause the greatest amount of harm to females with the highest intrinsic fecundity.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Evolution, Behaviour and Environment
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH0301 Biology > QH0359 Evolution
Depositing User:	Ted Morrow
Date Deposited:	31 Oct 2012 12:13
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2012 12:13
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/40269

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