Hierarchical selection theory and sex ratios I. General solutions for structured populations (Q1090642)

The content of this paper is best described by the author's abstract: Models of sex-ratio evolution in structured populations are derived with \textit{G. R. Price}'s covariance form for the hierarchical analysis of natural selection [Nature 227, 520-521 (1970)]. Previous work on competition among related males for mates (local mate competition), competition among related females for a limiting resource (local resource competition), inbreeding, group selection, and asymmetry of genetic inheritance between males and females, are subsumed under a general formulation for sex-ratio biases in structured populations. I found that the evolutionarily stable strategy sex ratio (males:females) for diploids is \(1-p_ m:1-p_ f\), where \(p_ m\) is the regression coefficient of relatedness of the controlling genotypes on males competing for mates, \(p_ f\) is the regression of controlling genotypes on females that compete for a fixed, limiting resource, and there is no inbreeding. For inbreeding and no competition among females, the evolutionarily stable strategy is \(1-p_ m:1+p_{mf}\), where \(p_{mf}\) is the regression of controlling genotypes on females' mates.