Data from: Natural and sexual selection on cuticular hydrocarbons: a quantitative genetic analysis

While the reproductive benefits of sexual displays have been widely
studied, we have relatively limited evidence of the fitness costs
associated with most display traits. Insect cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC)
profiles are sexually selected traits that also protect against
desiccation. These two functions are thought to oppose each other, with
investment in particular compounds believed to increase attractiveness at
the expense of compounds that protect against water-loss. We investigated
this potential trade-off in a quantitative genetic framework using the
Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. Several compounds were
significantly genetically correlated with either attractiveness or
desiccation resistance. Of these compounds, one was negatively genetically
correlated with attractiveness but positively genetically correlated with
desiccation resistance. Furthermore, scoring each individual’s overall CHC
profile for its level of attractiveness and desiccation resistance
indicated a negative genetic correlation between these multivariate
phenotypes. Together, our results provide evidence for a genetic trade-off
between sexually and naturally selected functions of the CHC profile. We
suggest that the production of an attractive CHC profile may be costly for
males, but highlight the need for further work to support this finding
experimentally. Genetic covariation between the CHC profile and
attractiveness suggests that females can gain attractive sons through
female choice.

尽管性展示的繁殖收益已得到广泛研究，但我们对大多数展示性状相关的适合度代价的证据仍相对有限。昆虫表皮碳氢化合物（cuticular hydrocarbon, CHC）谱是一类性选择性状，同时也具有抗脱水功能。这两种功能被认为存在相互拮抗关系——对特定化合物的投入虽能提升吸引力，却需以牺牲具有抗脱水作用的化合物为代价。我们以澳大利亚田蟋蟀（Teleogryllus oceanicus）为研究对象，在数量遗传学框架下探究了这种潜在的权衡关系。多个化合物与吸引力或抗脱水能力存在显著的遗传相关性；其中有一种化合物与吸引力呈显著负遗传相关，同时与抗脱水能力呈显著正遗传相关。此外，通过对个体整体CHC谱的吸引力水平与抗脱水能力水平进行评分，结果表明这些多变量表型之间存在负遗传相关。综上，我们的结果为CHC谱的性选择功能与自然选择功能之间存在遗传权衡提供了证据。我们认为，生成具有吸引力的CHC谱对雄性而言可能代价高昂，但同时强调需通过进一步实验验证这一发现。CHC谱与吸引力之间的遗传协变表明，雌性可通过配偶选择获得具有吸引力的后代。