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Biology Faculty & Staff Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-1979
Abstract
Theory about the evolution of sexual behavior in dioecious species is based on the general assumption that egg production is limited by a female's ability to garner resources to make eggs, not by a lack of sperm to fertilize them. Reproductive success for males is thus limited by access to females (and their eggs). I suggest that egg production by simultaneous hermaphrodites also obeys this principle--that fertilized egg production by an individual is not limited by sperm availability, but by resources allocated to eggs. If true, this suggests that sperm competition (reproduction success through male function) and a form of male-female conflict have played important roles in the evolution of hermaphroditism.
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Volume
76
First Page
2480
Last Page
2484
Language (ISO)
English
Keywords
sperm competition, pollination, male-female conflict, dioecy, double fertilization
Recommended Citation
Charnov, E.L. 1979. Simultaneous hermaphroditism and sexual selection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 76:2480-2484