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The twofold cost of sex unfolded

Olofsson, Helen and Lundberg, Per LU (2007) In Evolutionary Ecology Research 9(7). p.1119-1129
Abstract
Question: Considering ecological factors and life history, how easy is it for sexual reproduction (as a strategy) to invade and persist in a population where all individuals are reproducing asexually? Mathematical method: We use a population growth equation that despite its simplicity captures several relevant ecological parameters: age-specific survival, differential birth rates, as well as both within-strategy and between-strategy competition. We perform invasion analysis to reach conclusions about the stability of the two evolutionary strategies. Key assumptions: Sexual and asexual reproduction can be thought of as a strategy game. Instead of focusing on the genetic advantages of sexual reproduction, we explore the ecological and... (More)
Question: Considering ecological factors and life history, how easy is it for sexual reproduction (as a strategy) to invade and persist in a population where all individuals are reproducing asexually? Mathematical method: We use a population growth equation that despite its simplicity captures several relevant ecological parameters: age-specific survival, differential birth rates, as well as both within-strategy and between-strategy competition. We perform invasion analysis to reach conclusions about the stability of the two evolutionary strategies. Key assumptions: Sexual and asexual reproduction can be thought of as a strategy game. Instead of focusing on the genetic advantages of sexual reproduction, we explore the ecological and demographic conditions under which the two main reproductive strategies are maintained. Conclusions: From an ecological point of view, sexual reproduction remains enigmatic only if the sexual strategy implies monogamy, there are no ecological interactions between the alternative reproductive strategies, and the life histories of both asexual and sexual strategies are limited to semelparity. Relaxation of those very restrictive ecological conditions allows for the co-existence of sexual and asexual reproduction as well as mutual invasion of the two strategies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
population, life history, invasion, co-existence, evolution of sex, dynamics
in
Evolutionary Ecology Research
volume
9
issue
7
pages
1119 - 1129
publisher
Evolutionary Ecology Ltd
external identifiers
  • wos:000251194600004
  • scopus:36448985962
ISSN
1522-0613
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bb1fb297-a76e-4508-a621-c4936b9c2413 (old id 968899)
alternative location
http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/issues/v09n07/ffar2220.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:42:10
date last changed
2022-02-27 23:01:02
@article{bb1fb297-a76e-4508-a621-c4936b9c2413,
  abstract     = {{Question: Considering ecological factors and life history, how easy is it for sexual reproduction (as a strategy) to invade and persist in a population where all individuals are reproducing asexually? Mathematical method: We use a population growth equation that despite its simplicity captures several relevant ecological parameters: age-specific survival, differential birth rates, as well as both within-strategy and between-strategy competition. We perform invasion analysis to reach conclusions about the stability of the two evolutionary strategies. Key assumptions: Sexual and asexual reproduction can be thought of as a strategy game. Instead of focusing on the genetic advantages of sexual reproduction, we explore the ecological and demographic conditions under which the two main reproductive strategies are maintained. Conclusions: From an ecological point of view, sexual reproduction remains enigmatic only if the sexual strategy implies monogamy, there are no ecological interactions between the alternative reproductive strategies, and the life histories of both asexual and sexual strategies are limited to semelparity. Relaxation of those very restrictive ecological conditions allows for the co-existence of sexual and asexual reproduction as well as mutual invasion of the two strategies.}},
  author       = {{Olofsson, Helen and Lundberg, Per}},
  issn         = {{1522-0613}},
  keywords     = {{population; life history; invasion; co-existence; evolution of sex; dynamics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{1119--1129}},
  publisher    = {{Evolutionary Ecology Ltd}},
  series       = {{Evolutionary Ecology Research}},
  title        = {{The twofold cost of sex unfolded}},
  url          = {{http://www.evolutionary-ecology.com/issues/v09n07/ffar2220.pdf}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}