Climate-driven population divergence in sex-determining systems

Ido Pen (), Tobias Uller, Barbara Feldmeyer, Anna Harts, Geoffrey M. While and Erik Wapstra
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Ido Pen: Theoretical Biology Group, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, the Netherlands
Tobias Uller: Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK
Barbara Feldmeyer: Theoretical Biology Group, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, the Netherlands
Anna Harts: Theoretical Biology Group, University of Groningen, PO Box 14, 9750 AA Haren, the Netherlands
Geoffrey M. While: School of Zoology, Private Bag 5, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
Erik Wapstra: School of Zoology, Private Bag 5, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia

Nature, 2010, vol. 468, issue 7322, 436-438

Abstract: Sex determined by climate In vertebrates, sex can be determined either genetically or by the temperature experienced by the embryo, but the evolutionary causes of this variation remain poorly understood. Pen et al. show that a live-bearing lizard at different climatic extremes of its range uses different sex-determining mechanisms — temperature in the lowlands and genotype at higher altitudes. Divergent natural selection on sex determination by altitude is caused by climatic effects on lizard life history and variation in the magnitude of between-year temperature fluctuations. The results establish an adaptive explanation for intra-specific divergence in sex-determining systems.

Date: 2010
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09512

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