Multilevel selection in the evolution of sexual dimorphism in phenotypic plasticity

Phenotypes are partly shaped by the environment, which can impact both short-term adaptation and long-term evolution. In dioecious species, the two sexes may exhibit different degrees of phenotypic plasticity and theoretical models indicate that such differences may confer an adaptive advantage when...

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Published inProceedings of the Royal Society. B, Biological sciences Vol. 290; no. 1999; p. 20230634
Main Authors Zadorin, Anton S., Rivoire, Olivier
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Royal Society, The 31.05.2023
The Royal Society
Subjects
Acclimatization
Adaptation, Physiological
Animals
Biodiversity
Biological Evolution
Evolution
Female
Genetics
Life Sciences
Male
Populations and Evolution
Reproduction
Selection, Genetic
Sex Characteristics
multilevel selection
phenotypic plasticity
sexual dimorphism
adaptation to changing environments
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Summary:Phenotypes are partly shaped by the environment, which can impact both short-term adaptation and long-term evolution. In dioecious species, the two sexes may exhibit different degrees of phenotypic plasticity and theoretical models indicate that such differences may confer an adaptive advantage when the population is subject to directional selection, either because of a systematically varying environment or a load of deleterious mutations. The effect stems from the fundamental asymmetry between the two sexes: female fertility is more limited than male fertility. Whether this asymmetry is sufficient for sexual dimorphism in phenotypic plasticity to evolve is, however, not obvious. Here, we show that even in conditions where it provides an adaptive advantage, dimorphic phenotypic plasticity may be evolutionarily unstable due to sexual selection. This is the case, in particular, for panmictic populations where mating partnerships are formed at random. However, we show that the effects of sexual selection can be counteracted when mating occurs within groups of related individuals. Under this condition, sexual dimorphism in phenotypic plasticity can not only evolve but offset the twofold cost of males. We demonstrate these points with a simple mathematical model through a combination of analytical and numerical results.
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Electronic supplementary material is available online at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6630772.
ISSN:0962-8452
1471-2954
1471-2954
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2023.0634