Sexual selection and speciation in the Anthropocene

Sammanfattning

Anthropogenic change threatens global biodiversity by causing severe ecological disturbance and extinction. Here, we consider the effects of anthropogenic change on one process that generates biodiversity. Sexual selection (a potent evolutionary force and driver of speciation) is highly sensitive to the environment and, thus, vulnerable to anthropogenic ecological change. Anthropogenic alterations to sexual display and mate preference can make it harder to distinguish between conspecific and heterospecific mates or can weaken divergence via sexual selection, leading to higher rates of hybridization and biodiversity loss. Occasionally, anthropogenically altered sexual selection can abet diversification, but this appears less likely than biodiversity loss. In our rapidly changing world, a full understanding of sexual selection and speciation requires a global change perspective.

Nyckelord

anthropogenic change; condition-dependent display; diversification; global change biology; mate choice

Publicerad i

Trends in ecology & evolution
2024, volym: 39, nummer: 7, sidor: 654-665

SLU författare

• Brand, Jack

  • Institutionen för vilt, fisk och miljö, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Monash University

UKÄ forskningsämne

Zoologi
Evolutionsbiologi

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2024.02.005

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/128955