AGEINGSEXUALCONFLICT

Senescence and sexual conflict in a model insect species (Tribolium castaneum): a test of evolutionary ideas

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The fundamental question 'why do organisms age?' remains among the most enduring challenges in evolutionary biology. One of the most complex aspects of ageing is sex-specific selection on ageing rates and, more generally, the dynamic link between ageing and sexual conflict. Although sexual conflict was recognized over 30 years ago, its role in adaptive evolution has only recently received theoretical and empirical attention. Sexual conflict is currently recognized as a key evolutionary process, and recent evidence suggests that it can drastically influence patterns of ageing by acting as both a catalyst of and a constraint to the evolution of sex-specific life histories. Considerations of sexual conflict are therefore fundamental to understand why males and females age at different rates, the costs of sex and, ultimately, the evolution of ageing. Unfortunately, ageing theory has largely neglected sexual conflict, while theory of sexual conflict has only begun to consider ageing. The integration of these topical areas of evolutionary biology is in its infancy and, as a consequence, comprehensive work investigating the relationship between sex-specific patterns of ageing and –simultaneously- interlocus sexual conflict (IRSC) and intralocus sexual conflict (IASC; the two fundamental mechanisms of sexual conflict) has been extremely rare. Using a model insect species (Tribolium castaneum), I propose a strongly experimental approach aimed to address some of the fundamental evolutionary questions concerning ageing and sexual conflict: a) Does the intensity of interlocus conflict (IRSC) influence ageing rates and, does senescence foster IRSC?, b) Does intralocus conflict (IASC) constrain the evolution of sex-specific ageing rates?, and c) How do IRSC and IASC interact to influence ageing? A fourth integrated objective is to identify gerontogenes underlying the evolution of sex-specific ageing rates and, in particular, gerontogenes that are target of IASC and IRSC.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Scientists have only recently recognised the link between ageing and sexual conflict and its role in adaptive evolution. EU funding supported studies exploring the dynamic link between ageing and sexual conflict.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Though sexual conflict is a key evolutionary process, the effect of sexual conflict on sex-specific ageing has not been explored in depth. To address these gaps in knowledge, scientists initiated the AGEINGSEXUALCONFLICT (Senescence and sexual conflict in a model insect species (Tribolium castaneum): a test of evolutionary ideas) project.

Researchers investigated the effect of kin selection on sexual conflict and sex-specific patterns of ageing using insect models with intense sexual conflict and sex-specific ageing rates.

The Drosophila melanogaster model was selected to study the effect of kin selection on sexual conflict intensity and reproductive ageing. Females exposed to male groups of brothers competing for reproduction had higher lifetime reproductive success and slower reproductive ageing than their counterparts. These findings were published in the Nature journal.

Project scientists also explored the transgenerational effects of kin-selected modulation of sexual conflict. They compared the lifespan of offspring of females exposed to related and unrelated male groups. Preliminary results indicate that male relatedness not only decreases female reproductive senescence but also enhances the lifespan of their offspring.

Research outcomes have significant implications in the field of evolutionary biology. These findings have opened up novel avenues of research on sexual selection with social evolution.