Gay, L. and Eady, P. E, and Vasudev, R. and Hosken, D. J. and Tregenza, T. (2009) Does reproductive isolation evolve faster in larger populations via sexually antagonistic coevolution? Biology Letters, 5 (5). pp. 693-696. ISSN 1744-9561

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Abstract

Sexual conflict over reproductive investment can lead to sexually antagonistic coevolution and reproductive isolation. It has been suggested that, unlike most models of allopatric speciation, the evolution of reproductive isolation through sexually antagonistic coevolution will occur faster in large populations as these harbour greater levels of standing genetic variation, receive larger numbers of mutations and experience more intense sexual selection. We tested this in bruchid beetle populations (Callosobruchus maculatus) by manipulating population size and standing genetic variability in replicated lines derived from founders that had been released from sexual conflict for 90 generations. We found that after 19 generations of reintroduced sexual conflict, none of our treatments had evolved significant overall reproductive isolation among replicate lines. However, as predicted, measures of reproductive isolation tended to be greater among larger populations. We discuss our methodology, arguing that reproductive isolation is best examined by performing a matrix of allopatric and sympatric crosses whereas measurement of divergence requires crosses with a tester line.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	sexual conflict, population size, experimental evolution, reproductive isolation, ref06, refdoi
Subjects:	C Biological Sciences > C142 Reproductive Biology C Biological Sciences > C182 Evolution C Biological Sciences > C100 Biology
Divisions:	College of Sciences > Faculty of Science > School of Life Sciences
Depositing User:	Sarah Lunt
Date Deposited:	26 Mar 2011 23:09
Last Modified:	07 May 2013 15:22
URI:	http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/4310

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