Data from: The evolution of costly mate choice against segregation distorters

The evolution of female preference for male genetic quality remains a controversial topic in sexual selection research. One well-known problem, known as the lek paradox, lies in understanding how variation in genetic quality is maintained in spite of natural selection and sexual selection against low-quality alleles. Here, we theoretically investigate a scenario where females pay a direct fitness cost to avoid males carrying an autosomal segregation distorter. We show that preference evolution is greatly facilitated under such circumstances. Because the distorter is transmitted in a non-Mendelian fashion, it can be maintained in the population despite directional sexual selection. The preference helps females avoid fitness costs associated with the distorter. Interestingly, we find that preference evolution is limited if the choice allele induces a very strong preference or if distortion is very strong. Moreover, the preference can only persist in the presence of a signal that reliably indicates a male's distorter genotype. Hence, even in a system where the lek paradox does not play a major role, costly preferences can only spread under specific circumstances. We discuss the importance of distorter systems for the evolution of costly female choice and potential implications for the use of artificial distorters in pest control.

在性选择研究领域，雌性对雄性遗传质量的偏好演化始终是一个颇具争议的议题。其中一个广为人知的经典难题——即lek悖论（Lek Paradox）——核心在于阐释：尽管存在针对低质量等位基因的自然选择与性选择，种群中为何仍能维持遗传质量的变异。本研究从理论层面探讨了一类演化情境：雌性需付出直接适合度成本，以规避携带常染色体分离畸变因子（autosomal segregation distorter）的雄性。研究结果表明，此类情境可极大地促进偏好的演化进程。由于该畸变因子以非孟德尔式的方式进行传递，即便存在定向性选择，它仍可在种群中得以维持。此类偏好能够帮助雌性规避与该畸变因子相关的适合度成本。有趣的是，本研究发现，若选择等位基因诱导出过强的择偶偏好，或畸变效应过于强烈，偏好的演化均会受到限制。此外，唯有当存在能够可靠指示雄性畸变基因型的信号时，该择偶偏好才能得以维持。因此，即便在lek悖论未起到主要作用的演化系统中，带有成本的雌性择偶偏好也仅能在特定条件下得以扩散。本研究还讨论了畸变系统对于具有成本的雌性选择演化的重要意义，以及人工畸变因子在害虫防治中的潜在应用价值。