Higher rates of sex evolve in spatially heterogeneous environments

Lutz Becks () and Aneil F. Agrawal
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Lutz Becks: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada
Aneil F. Agrawal: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B2, Canada

Nature, 2010, vol. 468, issue 7320, 89-92

Abstract: On space and the evolution of sex Although many hypotheses exist to explain the overwhelming presence of sexual reproduction among plants and animals, direct tests of these theories are scarce. In experiments with the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, which is capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction, Lutz Becks and Aneil Agrawal have tested the recent theory predicting that spatial heterogeneity can facilitate the evolution of sex. They find that sexual reproduction is favoured in varied habitats that included spatially distinct areas of low- and high-quality food. Homogeneous environments, where food quality does not vary across habitat, do not favour sexual reproduction.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09449

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