Sexual selection and mate limitation shape evolution of species’ range limits

Understanding what processes shape the formation of species’ geographic range limits is one central objective linking ecology and evolutionary biology. One potentially key process is sexual selection; yet, theory examining how sexual selection could shape eco-evolutionary dynamics in marginal populations is still lacking. In species with separate sexes, range limits could be shaped by limitations in encountering mates at low densities. Sexual selection could therefore modulate mate limitation and resulting extinction-colonisation dynamics at range margins, through the evolution of mate encounter ability and/or mate competition traits, and their demographic consequences. We use a spatially explicit eco-genetic model to reveal how different forms of sexual selection can variably affect emerging range limits. Here, we provide simulation output of the eco-genetic individual-based model to produce article Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Methods
Data were simulated using an eco-genetic individual-based model with the source code provided under Related Works.