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.

scholarly journals Parasite Selection and the Fitness of Sexual Reproduction

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Samantha A. Klosak
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Natural Population ◽  
Reproductive Mode ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Trematode Parasite ◽  
Maintenance Of Sex ◽  
Fitness Consequence ◽  
Offspring Generation ◽  
The Red Queen

Sexual reproduction is a very costly process: the growth rate of asexual lineages exceeds that of sexual lineages. Nonetheless, sex is prevalent in nature. The Red Queen Hypothesis argues that, because sex and recombination generate genetically variable offspring that may escape infection by coevolving parasites, parasites select for sex in hosts (Lively & Dybdahl, 2000). Our research directly tests if the Red Queen can explain the maintenance of sex in a natural population. This experiment focuses on a natural population of the snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum, which is native to New Zealand. Individuals of this species are either diploid and sexually reproducing or triploid and asexually reproducing (Lively & Osnas, 2006). This snail is naturally infected by the trematode parasite, Microphallus, which is sterilizing and thus exerts strong selection on its host. The Red Queen Hypothesis predicts that parasites should periodically increase the fitness of sexual relative to asexual individuals. We accordingly established mesocosms containing both sexual and asexual snails from the same natural population. Half of these mesocosms were exposed to parasites and the other half were not. These snails were then allowed to reproduce over the course of a year. We used flow cytometry to determine the frequency of diploids in the parents and the offspring, and thereby the fitness of sexual individuals in the presence and absence of parasites. Interestingly, we find that sexual individuals are currently more susceptible to parasites than are asexual individuals. In tanks in which sexual parents are relatively more infected, the frequency of sexual individuals declined significantly more in the offspring generation, indicating a fitness consequence of parasitism for sexual reproduction. Our findings suggest that parasite selection can indeed operate on reproductive mode. Moreover, our results are consistent with theory (King, Delph, Jokela, & Lively, 2009) and a prior field study in our system indicating that the direction of parasite selection is variable, such that parasites periodically select against sexual reproduction (Vergara, Lively, King, & Jokela, 2013). This current experiment will continue for multiple years in order to track the variation in parasite selection on sex through time. 

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 Transmissible cancers and the evolution of sex under the Red Queen hypothesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Aubier ◽  
Matthias Galipaud ◽  
E. Yagmur Erten ◽  
Hanna Kokko
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Evolution Of Sex ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Fluctuating Selection ◽  
Cancerous Cells ◽  
The Red Queen ◽  
Antagonistic Interactions

AbstractThe predominance of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes remains paradoxical in evolutionary theory. Of the hypotheses proposed to resolve this paradox, the “Red Queen hypothesis” emphasizes the potential of antagonistic interactions to cause fluctuating selection, which favours the evolution and maintenance of sex. While empirical and theoretical developments have focused on host-parasite interactions, the premises of the Red Queen theory apply equally well to any type of antagonistic interactions. Recently, it has been suggested that early multicellular organisms with basic anticancer defenses were presumably plagued by antagonistic interactions with transmissible cancers, and that this could have played a pivotal role in the evolution of sex. Here, we dissect this argument using a population genetic model. One fundamental aspect distinguishing transmissible cancers from other parasites is the continual production of cancerous cell lines from hosts’ own tissues. We show that this influx dampens fluctuating selection and therefore makes the evolution of sex more difficult than in standard Red Queen models. Although coevolutionary cycling can remain sufficient to select for sex under some parameter regions of our model, we show that the size of those regions shrinks once we account for epidemiological constraints. Altogether, our results suggest that horizontal transmission of cancerous cells is unlikely to cause fluctuating selection favouring sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, we confirm that vertical transmission of cancerous cells can promote the evolution of sex through a separate mechanism, known as similarity selection, that does not depend on coevolutionary fluctuations.

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.

scholarly journals Transmissible cancers and the evolution of sex under the Red Queen hypothesis

PLoS Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. e3000916
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Aubier ◽  
Matthias Galipaud ◽  
E. Yagmur Erten ◽  
Hanna Kokko
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Evolution Of Sex ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Fluctuating Selection ◽  
Cancerous Cells ◽  
The Red Queen ◽  
Antagonistic Interactions

The predominance of sexual reproduction in eukaryotes remains paradoxical in evolutionary theory. Of the hypotheses proposed to resolve this paradox, the ‘Red Queen hypothesis’ emphasises the potential of antagonistic interactions to cause fluctuating selection, which favours the evolution and maintenance of sex. Whereas empirical and theoretical developments have focused on host-parasite interactions, the premises of the Red Queen theory apply equally well to any type of antagonistic interactions. Recently, it has been suggested that early multicellular organisms with basic anticancer defences were presumably plagued by antagonistic interactions with transmissible cancers and that this could have played a pivotal role in the evolution of sex. Here, we dissect this argument using a population genetic model. One fundamental aspect distinguishing transmissible cancers from other parasites is the continual production of cancerous cell lines from hosts’ own tissues. We show that this influx dampens fluctuating selection and therefore makes the evolution of sex more difficult than in standard Red Queen models. Although coevolutionary cycling can remain sufficient to select for sex under some parameter regions of our model, we show that the size of those regions shrinks once we account for epidemiological constraints. Altogether, our results suggest that horizontal transmission of cancerous cells is unlikely to cause fluctuating selection favouring sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, we confirm that vertical transmission of cancerous cells can promote the evolution of sex through a separate mechanism, known as similarity selection, that does not depend on coevolutionary fluctuations.

scholarly journals Digest: The Red Queen hypothesis demonstrated by the Daphnia -Caullerya host-parasite system†

Evolution ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-716
Author(s):  
María Martín-Peciña ◽  
Carolina Osuna-Mascaró
Keyword(s):  
Red Queen Hypothesis ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
The Red Queen

scholarly journals Antibiotic-driven Escape of Host in a Parasite-induced Red Queen Dynamics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth L. Anzia ◽  
Jomar F. Rabajante
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Stable Equilibrium ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Low Level ◽  
High Level ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
The Red Queen

AbstractWinnerless coevolution of hosts and parasites could exhibit Red Queen dynamics, which is characterized by parasite-driven cyclic switching of expressed host phenotypes. We hypothesize that the application of antibiotics to suppress the reproduction of parasites can provide opportunity for the hosts to escape such winnerless coevolution. Here, we formulate a minimal mathematical model of host-parasite interaction involving multiple host phenotypes that are targeted by adapting parasites. Our model predicts the levels of antibiotic effectiveness that can steer the parasite-driven cyclic switching of host phenotypes (heteroclinic oscillations) to a stable equilibrium of host survival. Our simulations show that uninterrupted application of antibiotic with high-level effectiveness (> 85%) is needed to escape the Red Queen dynamics. Intermittent and low level of antibiotic effectiveness are indeed useless to stop host-parasite coevolution. This study can be a guide in designing good practices and protocols to minimize risk of further progression of parasitic infections.

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