Proulx Research

NICHE SHIFTS AND EXPANSION DUE TO SEXUAL SELECTION Proulx, S.R. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 2002. 4:351-369.

Abstract
Several theoretical studies have shown that niche breadth evolution is weighted by gene flow and selection pressures to maintain adaptation within the current niche. However, these studies have assumed that mating pairs form at random within demes. I extend previous models to include sexual selection and find that non-random mating can alter the likelihood of niche expansion in mainland/island structured populations. Under random mating, an allele which improves fitness on the island will only spread if individuals are more than compensated in island fitness for any loss of mainland fitness. In contrast, under sexual selection, an island adapted allele can spread even when it causes a complete loss of fitness on the mainland.

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