The evolution of animal genitalia: distinguishing between hypotheses by single species studies
نویسنده
چکیده
Rapid evolution of genitalia is one of the most general patterns of morphological diversification in animals. Despite its generality, the causes of this evolutionary trend remain obscure. Several alternative hypotheses have been suggested to account for the evolution of genitalia (notably the lock-and-key, pleiotropism, and sexual selection hypotheses). Here, I argue that thorough intraspecific studies are the key to gaining insight into the patterns and processes of genitalic evolution. Critical assumptions and predictions that may be used to distinguish between the different hypotheses are identified and discussed. However, current knowledge of selection on genitalia, or even of the degree of phenotypic and genotypic variability of genital morphology, is highly limited, allowing only a very tentative assessment of the various hypotheses. In-depth single species studies of current patterns and processes of selection on genitalia are badly needed, and a single species research program is briefly outlined.
منابع مشابه
Experiments with genitalia: a commentary.
There has been a recent burst of studies of the function of genitalia, many of which share several important shortcomings. Given that further studies on this topic are likely (there are probably millions of species showing rapid genital divergence), I discuss the studies critically to promote clear formulation of hypotheses and interpretation of results in the future. I also emphasize some poss...
متن کاملInduced Termination of Pregnancy in Domestic Farm Animals
Induced abortion may be desired during a normal or abnormal pregnancy. The methods of induced abortion differ between species mainly because of different sources for progesterone production during pregnancy between species and within a species according to different stages of gestation. In cows and buffaloes, pregnancy can be effectively terminated from 5 to 150 days by administration of luteol...
متن کاملEcological constraints, life history traits and the evolution of cooperative breeding.
The ecological constraints hypothesis is widely accepted as an explanation for the evolution of delayed dispersal in cooperatively breeding birds. Intraspecific studies offer the strongest support. Observational studies have demonstrated a positive association between the severity of ecological constraints and the prevalence of cooperation, and experimental studies in which constraints on indep...
متن کاملLoss of Chloroplast trnLUAA Intron in Two Species of Hedysarum (Fabaceae): Evolutionary Implications
Previous studies have indicated that in all land plants examined to date, the chloroplast gene trnLUAA isinterrupted by a single group I intron ranging from 250 to over 1400 bp. The parasitic Epifagus virginiana haslost, however, the entire gene. We report that the intron is missing from the chloroplast genome of twoarctic species of the legume genus Hedysarum (H. alpinum, H. ...
متن کاملRapid Divergent Evolution of Genitalia
The evolutionary forces responsible for the evolution of animal genitalia have a long history of controversy. Why the special interest in genitalia? In addition to the intrinsic interest of organs that are so intimately related to reproduction and fi tness, it is because of a classic property of genital evolution: the morphological forms of genitalia are often speciesspecifi c, and these forms ...
متن کامل