DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.05.004
论文题名: Why Sex? A Pluralist Approach Revisited
作者: Neiman M. ; Lively C.M. ; Meirmans S.
刊名: Trends in Ecology and Evolution
ISSN: 1695347
出版年: 2017
卷: 32, 期: 8 起始页码: 589
结束页码: 600
语种: 英语
英文关键词: asexuality
; mutations
; pluralism
; sexual reproduction
; stress
; synergism
英文摘要: Why sexual reproduction predominates in nature remains a mystery. The mystery stems in part from the fact that many of the plausible hypotheses for sex have restrictive assumptions. Two decades ago these limitations inspired the formulation of a ‘pluralist’ approach in which standalone hypotheses for sex were considered together. Here we review representative literature to address whether this strategy has deepened our understanding of sex. We found surprisingly few papers adopting such an approach, probably reflecting challenges associated with testing multiple mechanisms. Nevertheless, these studies provided new insights, highlighting in particular the potential importance of interaction between parasites and harmful mutations. We conclude with strategies for moving forward, including broader formulations of pluralism and the application of more qualitative types of testing. Why sexual reproduction is so common is the ‘queen of problems’ in evolutionary biology. Pluralist hypotheses that combine multiple mechanisms can in theory counter the major limitations characterizing many if not all standalone hypotheses for sex. We address whether these theoretical expectations are supported by empirical studies. Only a few directly relevant studies exist, but most have positive outcomes and provide new directions. In particular, these study outcomes emphasize the value of a flexible, more qualitative approach to pluralism and the combination of key genetic and ecological factors. We provide empirically focused suggestions for future studies. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd
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资源类型: 期刊论文
标识符: http://119.78.100.158/handle/2HF3EXSE/66903
Appears in Collections: 全球变化的国际研究计划 气候变化与战略
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作者单位: Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States; Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States; Institute for Philosophy, Leiden University, Leiden, RA, Netherlands
Recommended Citation:
Neiman M.,Lively C.M.,Meirmans S.. Why Sex? A Pluralist Approach Revisited[J]. Trends in Ecology and Evolution,2017-01-01,32(8)