Reproductive Selection

Natural selection can be divided into three types:

1. Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive.

2. Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate.

3. Reproductive selection acts on the post-mating capacity to generate
offspring.

Reproductive compatibility (RC) is defined as the reproductive
selection advantage that accrues to an individual from its ability to
interact with a specific mate. The absence of this attribute equates
to mutual infertility.

R(x,y) is an expression denoting the RC for a member of population x
with a member of population y as a mate.

Consider populations S1 and S2 as follows:

1. R(S1,S2) = R(S2,S1), meaning the RC for a member of S1 with a
member of S2 as a mate is equal to the RC for a member of S2 with a
member of S1 as a mate.

2. R(S1,S1) = R(S2,S2), meaning the RC for a member of S1 with a
another member of S1 as a mate is equal to the RC for a member of S2
with another member of S2 as a mate.

3. R(S1,S1) > R(S1,S2), meaning the RC for a member of S1 with another
member of S1 as a mate is greater than the RC for a member of S1 with
a member of S2 as a mate.

R(S1,S1) - R(S1,S2) = R(S2,S2) - R(S2,S1), which follows from the
above three relationships, implies the respective members of S1 and S2
suffer equivalent reductions in RC by mating with a member of the
other population rather than one of their own.

Under these conditions, reproductive selection pressure does not
produce a tendency for S1 to follow an evolutionary course that
substitutes the RC characteristics of S2 for its own, since those
traits of S2 are maladaptive in the context of S1. A necessary
condition of S1 evolving to S2 is consequently missing. Therefore,
such a development cannot occur if reproductive selection pressure
must suffice to determine the evolution of post-mating capacity to
generate offspring.

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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Reproductive Selection
    ... Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive. ... Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate. ... member of S2 as a mate is equal to the RC for a member of S2 with a ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Reproductive Selection
    ... Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive. ... Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate. ... Reproductive selection acts on the post-mating capacity to generate ... Ris an expression denoting the RC for a member of population x ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Reproductive Selection
    ... Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive. ... Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate. ... Reproductive selection acts on the post-mating capacity to generate ... member of S2 as a mate is equal to the RC for a member of S2 with a ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Reproductive Selection
    ... Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive. ... Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate. ... Reproductive selection acts on the post-mating capacity to generate ... A in mating with a member of population B. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Reproductive Selection
    ... Environmental selection acts on the capacity to survive. ... Sexual selection acts on the capacity to find a mate. ... member of S2 as a mate is equal to the RC for a member of S2 with a ...
    (talk.origins)