The Role of Phenotypic Plasticity in Moderating Evolutionary Conflict
OPEN ACCESS
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2018-08
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
OPEN ACCESS
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Evolutionary conflicts arise when the fitness interests of interacting individuals differ. Well-known examples include sexual conflict between males and females and antagonistic coevolution between hosts and parasites. A common feature of such conflicts is that compensating evolutionary change in each of the parties can lead to little overt change in the interaction itself. As a result, evolutionary conflict is expected to persist even if the evolutionary dynamic between the parties reaches an equilibrium. In these cases, it is of interest to know whether certain kinds of interactions are expected to lead to greater or lesser evolutionary conflict at such evolutionary stalemates. Here we present a theoretical analysis showing that when one of the interacting parties can respond to the other through adaptive phenotypic plasticity, evolutionary conflict is reduced. Paradoxically, however, it is the party that does not express adaptive plasticity that experiences less conflict. Conflict for the party displaying adaptive plasticity can increase or decrease, depending on the situation.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
192 (2)
Pages / Article No.
230 - 240
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
evolutionary theory; sexual conflict; host-parasite conflict; arms race; sexual selection; interlocus conflict
Organisational unit
03584 - Bonhoeffer, Sebastian / Bonhoeffer, Sebastian