scholarly journals Expanding the horizon: the Red Queen and potential alternatives

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tobler ◽  
I. Schlupp
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Sexual Species ◽  
Parasite Infections ◽  
Alternative Hypotheses ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
The Red Queen

The Red Queen hypothesis (RQH) is one of the most widely accepted hypotheses explaining the persistence of sexual reproduction despite its costs. It posits that sexual species, compared with asexuals, are more adept at countering parasites, because their per-generation recombination rate is higher. Despite theoretical support, current empirical studies have failed to provide unanimous support. Here, we suggest that future tests of the RQH should more thoroughly elucidate its underlying assumptions and potential alternative hypotheses. While the RQH predicts that negative frequency-dependent selection shapes host–parasite interactions, differences between sexuals and asexuals are potentially important. Key assumptions about asexual species and their sexual close relatives include (i) ecological and behavioral traits are similar, (ii) among-individual genetic diversity is greater in sexuals than in asexuals, and (iii) within-individual genetic diversity is similar in asexuals and sexuals. We review current evidence for the RQH, highlight differences between asexual and sexual species and how those differences might translate into differential responses to parasite infections, and discuss how they can influence the results and interpretation of empirical studies. Considering differences between asexual and sexual species in future tests of the RQH will help to refine predictions and eliminate alternative hypotheses.

A comparison of parasite loads on asexual and sexual Phoxinus (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (6) ◽  
pp. 808-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Mee ◽  
L. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Sexual Species ◽  
Asexual Species ◽  
The Red Queen

In light of the inherent disadvantages of sexual reproduction, the existence of sex is often seen as a paradox. There are a variety of hypothetical benefits of sexual reproduction that may balance its disadvantages. The Red Queen hypothesis proposes that sexually reproducing species are better able to evolve resistance to parasites than asexually reproducing species. A prediction of the Red Queen hypothesis is that a parasite should evolve to preferentially exploit an asexual species over a sexual species. To test this central prediction of the Red Queen hypothesis, intensity of infection by the parasite Gyrodactylus eos Mayes, 1977 (Monogenea) was compared between sympatric asexual and sexual fish species in the genus Phoxinus Rafinesque, 1820. In each lake where these species coexist, the asexual fish should suffer higher intensities of infection than the sexual fish. In the majority of lakes sampled, there were more parasites on asexual than sexual fish.

scholarly journals Bridging the gap between theory and data: the Red Queen Hypothesis for sex

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Woo Park ◽  
Benjamin M Bolker
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Estimated Parameters ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
The Red Queen

AbstractSexual reproduction persists in nature despite its large cost. The Red Queen Hypothesis postulates that parasite pressure maintains sexual reproduction in the host population by selecting for the ability to produce rare genotypes that are resistant to infection. Mathematical models have been used to lay theoretical foundations for the hypothesis; empirical studies have confirmed these predictions. For example, Lively used a simple host-parasite model to predict that the frequency of sexual hosts should be positively correlated with the prevalence of infection. Lively et al. later confirmed the prediction through numerous field studies of snail-trematode systems in New Zealand. In this study, we fit a simple metapopulation host-parasite coevolution model to three data sets, each representing a different snail-trematode system, by matching the observed prevalence of sexual reproduction and trematode infection among hosts. Using the estimated parameters, we perform a power analysis to test the feasibility of observing the positive correlation predicted by Lively. We discuss anomalies in the data that are poorly explained by the model and provide practical guidance to both modelers and empiricists. Overall, our study suggests that a simple Red Queen model can only partially explain the observed relationships between parasite infection and the maintenance of sexual reproduction.

The Red Queen hypothesis and geographical parthenogenesis in the alpine hawkweed Hieracium alpinum (Asteraceae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 122 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Hartmann ◽  
Michal Štefánek ◽  
Pavel Zdvořák ◽  
Petr Heřman ◽  
Jindřich Chrtek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Geographical Parthenogenesis ◽  
The Red Queen

scholarly journals On the Causes of Selection for Recombination Underlying the Red Queen Hypothesis

2009 ◽  
Vol 174 (S1) ◽  
pp. S31-S42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel Salathé ◽  
Roger D. Kouyos ◽  
Sebastian Bonhoeffer
Keyword(s):  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Selection For ◽  
The Red Queen

scholarly journals Continual evolution through coupled fast and slow feedbacks

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike T. Wortel ◽  
Han Peters ◽  
Juan A. Bonachela ◽  
Nils Chr. Stenseth
Keyword(s):  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Functional Form ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Minimal Set ◽  
The Given ◽  
The Red Queen

AbstractThe Red Queen Hypothesis, which suggests that continual evolution can result from solely biotic interactions, has been studied in macroevolutionary and microevolutionary contexts. While microevolutionary studies have described examples in which evolution does not cease, understanding which general conditions lead to continual evolution or to stasis remains a major challenge. In many cases, it is unclear which experimental features or model assumptions are necessary for the observed continual evolution to emerge, and whether the described behavior is robust to variations in the given setup. Here, we aim to find the minimal set of conditions under which continual evolution occurs. To this end, we present a theoretical framework that does not assume any specific functional form and, therefore, can be applied to a wide variety of systems. Our framework is also general enough to cast predictions about both monomorphic and polymorphic populations. We show that the combination of a fast positive and a slow negative feedback causes continual evolution to emerge even from the evolution of one single evolving trait, provided that the ecological timescale is sufficiently separated from the timescales of mutation and the negative feedback. Our approach and results thus contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolutionary dynamics resulting from biotic interactions.

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