The impact of climatic variation on the opportunity for sexual selection.

摘要: Many studies have demonstrated influences of climatic variation on a variety ecological processes, however, its impact the potent evolutionary force sexual selection has largely been ignored. The intensity is fundamental parameter in animal populations, which depends upon degree polygamy and will probably be influenced by local ‘environmental potential for polygamy’. Here, we provide evidence direct effect selection, showing clear correlation between weather conditions inter-annual changes long-term study colonially breeding grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). Our results show that alter annual proportion males contributing to effective population size (Ne) up 61%. Consequently, over ‘lifetime’ cohort, broader range individuals contribute genetically next generation if are variable. In context predicted future variation, these findings broad implications genetics socially structured systems through major influence Ne.