Population Structure Mediates Sexual Conflict in Water Striders

Authors

• Omar Tonsi Eldakar, University of ArizonaFollow
• Michael J. Dlugos, Binghamton University--SUNY
• John W. Pepper, University of Arizona
• David Sloan Wilson, Binghamton University--SUNY

ORCID

0000-0002-4807-4979

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Science

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

11-6-2009

Abstract

Sexual conflict occurs when males and females act against each others' interest, typically resulting in selection favoring harmful males. We performed laboratory experiments on sexual conflict that both confined individuals in isolated groups, which prevents selection acting counter to this conflict, and provided more naturalistic multigroup population structures. We show that in water striders, aggressive male mating behavior was strongly favored within groups but not favored in a multigroup population when individuals can freely disperse among groups. These observations explain the persistence of less-aggressive males within natural populations.

DOI

10.1126/science.1180183

Volume

326

Issue

5954

First Page

816

NSUWorks Citation

Eldakar, Omar Tonsi; Michael J. Dlugos; John W. Pepper; and David Sloan Wilson. 2009. "Population Structure Mediates Sexual Conflict in Water Striders." Science 326, (5954): 816. doi:10.1126/science.1180183.