Data from: Correlated paternity measures mate monopolization and scales with the magnitude of sexual selection

Indirect measures of sexual selection have been criticized because they can overestimate the magnitude of selection. In particular, they do not account for the degree to which mating opportunities can be monopolized by individuals of the sex that compete for mates. We introduce a measure of mate monopolization (m) based on the magnitude of correlated paternity and evaluate its ability to track changes in the magnitude of sexual selection. Simulation models were used to compare how well m tracked changes in the selection differential (s) for a trait regulating mating success. We further evaluated the association between m and s using ten replicate mating arrays of Sagittaria latifolia in which plants with contrasting alleles at microsatellite loci competed for siring opportunities. The computer models and mating arrays both demonstrated a positive linear association between m and s, supporting the utility of m as an index of sexual selection. Commonly used measures of sexual selection are not easily applied to organisms, such as the flowering plants, for which mating events are difficult to observe. The measure of mate monopolization introduced here could prove to be a useful addition to studies of sexual selection in these organisms.

间接性选择度量方法一直饱受诟病，原因在于其往往会高估选择作用的强度。具体而言，这类方法未考虑竞争配偶的性别个体对交配机会的垄断程度。我们提出了一种基于相关父权强度的配偶垄断度（mate monopolization, m）度量指标，并评估其追踪性选择强度变化的能力。我们使用模拟模型，对比了该指标m与调控交配成功率的性状的选择差（selection differential, s）的变化追踪效果。我们还利用10组重复的慈姑（Sagittaria latifolia）交配阵列开展实验，这些阵列中，在微卫星位点（microsatellite loci）携带不同等位基因的植株会竞争受精机会。计算机模拟模型与野外交配阵列实验均证实，m与s之间存在显著的正线性相关关系，这支持将m作为性选择的有效度量指标。当前常用的性选择度量方法难以应用于诸如开花植物这类交配事件难以观测的生物类群。本文提出的配偶垄断度度量指标，有望成为这类生物类群性选择研究中的一项实用补充工具。