Projects per year
Abstract
Determining processes constraining adaptation is a major challenge facing evolutionary biology, and sex allocation has proved a useful model system for exploring different constraints. We investigate the evolution of suboptimal sex allocation in a solitary parasitoid wasp system by modelling information acquisition and processing using artificial neural networks (ANNs) evolving according to a genetic algorithm. Theory predicts an instantaneous switch from the production of male to female offspring with increasing host size, whereas data show gradual changes. We found that simple ANNs evolved towards producing sharp switches in sex ratio, but additional biologically reasonable assumptions of costs of synapse maintenance, and simplification of the ANNs, led to more gradual adjustment. Switch sharpness was robust to uncertainty in fitness consequences of host size, challenging interpretations of previous empirical findings. Our results also question some intuitive hypotheses concerning the evolution of threshold traits and confirm how neural processing may constrain adaptive behaviour.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1708-1719 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Evolutionary Biology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2010 |
Keywords
- adaptation
- artificial neural networks
- evolutionary constraints
- parasitoid
- sex ratio theory
- threshold traits
- LOCAL MATE COMPETITION
- PARASITIC WASP
- NASONIA-VITRIPENNIS
- COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
- NATURAL-SELECTION
- EVOLUTION
- INFORMATION
- ALLOCATION
- BEHAVIOR
- RECOGNITION
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Dive into the research topics of 'Constraints on adaptation: explaining deviation from optimal sex ratio using artificial neural networks'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Understanding the constraints on Sex: Understanding the constraints on sex ratio adaptation using artificial neural networks
Shuker, D. M. (PI)
1/04/09 → 30/11/10
Project: Standard
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Testing evolutionary theory: Testing evolutionary theory: from genome to phenotype and back again
Shuker, D. M. (PI)
1/02/09 → 30/06/12
Project: Fellowship