A comparative test of a theory for the evolution of anisogamy

Randerson, James P; Hurst, Laurence D.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2000.1581

Cited by 52 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…A general prediction of the disruptive selection theory previously confirmed for the volvocine algae, that zygote (or macrogamete) size increases with adult size (Bell, ; Randerson & Hurst, ), is upheld for the 45 species analyzed here (Figure ). Only 27 of the 45 species are represented in the phylogeny (Figure ), and therefore, no attempt was made to control for phylogeny.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

The evolution of sexes: A specific test of the disruptive selection theory

Silva

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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The disruptive selection theory of the evolution of anisogamy posits that the evolution of a larger body or greater organismal complexity selects for a larger zygote, which in turn selects for larger gametes. This may provide the opportunity for one mating type to produce more numerous, small gametes, forcing the other mating type to produce fewer, large gametes. Predictions common to this and related theories have been partially upheld. Here, a prediction specific to the disruptive selection theory is derived from a previously published game‐theoretic model that represents the most complete description of the theory. The prediction, that the ratio of macrogamete to microgamete size should be above three for anisogamous species, is supported for the volvocine algae. A fully population genetic implementation of the model, involving mutation, genetic drift, and selection, is used to verify the game‐theoretic approach and accurately simulates the evolution of gamete sizes in anisogamous species. This model was extended to include a locus for gamete motility and shows that oogamy should evolve whenever there is costly motility. The classic twofold cost of sex may be derived from the fitness functions of these models, showing that this cost is ultimately due to genetic conflict.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 62%

The evolution of sexes: A specific test of the disruptive selection theory

Silva

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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“…An extensive analysis by Bell (1982) for several algal and protozoan groups showed a clear correlation between the level of vegetative organization and the degree of gamete dimorphism. The most recent analysis (Randerson & Hurst (2001b) for the Volvocales), using modern comparative methods to control for phylogenetic effects, also supports the disruptive selection theory for the evolution of anisogamy. Both (i) the anisogamy ratio (macro-/microgamete volume), and (ii) the macrogamete size (see also Bell 1985), increased with adult size, although these results were sensitive to the mode of analysis and the phylogeny used.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Both (i) the anisogamy ratio (macro-/microgamete volume), and (ii) the macrogamete size (see also Bell 1985), increased with adult size, although these results were sensitive to the mode of analysis and the phylogeny used. Randerson & Hurst (2001b) proposed a plausible alternative explanation of their results, based on a constraint due to the (present) mode of reproduction, but it remains to be tested whether this is a better explanation of the anisogamy-adult size correlation in the Volvocales than the present theory.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has some empirical support, based on the transition from unicellularity to multicellularity in certain algal groups, notably the Volvocales (Knowlton 1974;Bell 1985;Masden & Waller 1983;Randerson & Hurst 2001b), though the present mode of reproduction of Volvocales does not immediately fit the assumptions of the model (Randerson & Hurst 2001a,b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The evolution of anisogamy: a game-theoretic approach

Bulmer¹,

Parker

2002

Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B

106

169

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A popular theory has proposed that anisogamy originated through disruptive selection acting on an ancestral isogamous population, though recent work has emphasized the importance of other factors in its evolution. We re-examine the disruptive selection theory, starting from an isogamous population with two mating types and taking into account the functional relationship, g(m), between the fitness of a gamete and its size, m, as well as the relationship, f(S ), between the fitness of a zygote and its size, S. Evolutionary game theory is used to determine the existence and continuous stability of isogamous and anisogamous strategies for the two mating types under various models for the two functions g(m) and f(S ). In the ancestral unicellular state, these two functions are likely to have been similar; this leads to isogamy whether they are sigmoidal or concave, though in the latter case allowance must be made for a minimal gamete size. The development of multicellularity may leave g(m) relatively unchanged while f(S ) moves to the right, leading to the evolution of anisogamy. Thus, the disruptive selection theory provides a powerful explanation of the origin of anisogamy, though other selective forces may have been involved in the subsequent specialization of micro-and macrogametes.

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“…This line of research can also give experimental insight into the role of sexual selection for the evolution of anisogamy for which so far only comparative empirical evidence exists (e.g. Bell, 1985;Randerson & Hurst, 2001).…”

Section: Experimental Sexual Selection With Fungimentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual selection in fungi

Nieuwenhuis

Aanen

2012

J of Evolutionary Biology

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The significance of sexual selection, the component of natural selection associated with variation in mating success, is well established for the evolution of animals and plants, but not for the evolution of fungi. Even though fungi do not have separate sexes, most filamentous fungi mate in a hermaphroditic fashion, with distinct sex roles, that is, investment in large gametes (female role) and fertilization by other small gametes (male role). Fungi compete to fertilize, analogous to 'male-male' competition, whereas they can be selective when being fertilized, analogous to female choice. Mating types, which determine genetic compatibility among fungal gametes, are important for sexual selection in two respects. First, genes at the mating-type loci regulate different aspects of mating and thus can be subject to sexual selection. Second, for sexual selection, not only the two sexes (or sex roles) but also the mating types can form the classes, the members of which compete for access to members of the other class. This is significant if mating-type gene products are costly, thus signalling genetic quality according to Zahavi's handicap principle. We propose that sexual selection explains various fungal characteristics such as the observed high redundancy of pheromones at the B mating-type locus of Agaricomycotina, the occurrence of multiple types of spores in Ascomycotina or the strong pheromone signalling in yeasts. Furthermore, we argue that fungi are good model systems to experimentally study fundamental aspects of sexual selection, due to their fast generation times and high diversity of life cycles and mating systems.

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A comparative test of a theory for the evolution of anisogamy

Cited by 52 publications

References 25 publications

The evolution of sexes: A specific test of the disruptive selection theory

The evolution of sexes: A specific test of the disruptive selection theory

The evolution of anisogamy: a game-theoretic approach

Sexual selection in fungi

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