Parasite-mediated sexual selection: just how choosy are parasitized females? |
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Authors: | R Poulin William L Vickery |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand, NZ;(2) Département des Sciences Biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale A, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada, CA |
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Abstract: | Models of parasite-mediated sexual selection have thus far overlooked the potential effects of parasites of females on their
hosts’ ability to choose mates. A set of models addressing this issue is developed, each building on the previous one to add
complexity and realism to the framework. The selection coefficient for parasite immunity and brightness is estimated using
the ratio of the fitness of susceptible males to the fitness of immune males. Parasite-induced reduction in female choosiness
can substantially relax the selection for bright, immune males, especially when: (1) immunity to parasites is rare in the
population, (2) parasites are not highly aggregated within the host population, (3) parasites are abundant, and (4) the effects
of parasites on male brightness or female choosiness are severe. Parasite-induced variability in male brightness is most likely
to occur in populations in which parasites are abundant and not aggregated; if females in those populations show a reduced
preference for bright males, sexual selection for brightness (and parasite immunity) will still operate but exert a weaker
selective pressure.
Received: 4 November 1994/Accepted after revision: 9 September 1995 |
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Keywords: | Sexual selection Parasites Female choosiness Aggregation Parasite abundance |
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