Data from: Selection on learning performance results in the correlated evolution of sexual dimorphism in life history

The evolution of learning can be constrained by trade-offs. As male and
female life-histories often diverge, the relationship between learning and
fitness may differ between the sexes. However, because sexes share much of
their genome, intersexual genetic correlations can prevent males and
females from reaching their sex-specific optima resulting in intralocus
sexual conflict (IaSC). To investigate if IaSC constraints sex-specific
evolution of learning we selected Caenorhabditis remanei nematode females
for increased or decreased olfactory learning performance and measured
learning, lifespan (in mated and virgin worms), reproduction and
locomotory activity in both sexes. Males from downward-selected female
lines had higher locomotory activity and longer virgin lifespan but sired
fewer progeny than males from upward-selected female lines. In contrast,
we found no effect of selection on female reproduction and
downward-selected females showed higher locomotory activity but lived
shorter as virgins than upward-selected females. Strikingly, selection on
learning performance led to the reversal of sexual dimorphism in virgin
lifespan. We thus show sex-specific trade-offs between learning,
reproduction and lifespan. Our results support the hypothesis that
selection on learning performance can shape the evolution of sexually
dimorphic life-histories via sex-specific genetic correlations.