A comparison of sexual selection versus random selection with respect to extinction and speciation rates using individual based modeling and machine learning

Abstract

It is not clear from empirical and simulation studies that populations with females who employ sexual selection have any evolutionary advantages over populations where mates are randomly selected. There is an ongoing debate regarding whether speciation rates and extinction rates differ significantly between sexual selection and random selection. Although there is evidence that sexual selection drives speciation in some animal species,the biological community remains divided regarding this relationship. Similarly, multiple studies point to a possible connection between sexual selection and extinction rates, although there is no clear consensus regarding this connection: Some studies suggest that sexual selection increases the extinction rate whereas others suggest that sexual selection actually shields populations from extinction. Using individual based computer simulations, we found a significant difference between sexual selection and random selection, with respect to speciation rates, extinction rates and species turnover rates: It turned out that speciation rates were significantly higher for random selection, possibly to help offset the higher extinction and turnover rates. Moreover, we used machine learning to generate rules to help predict rates of speciation and extinction both for sexual selection and random selection. Not only were our rules corroborated by empirical studies but they also help to resolve some disputes regarding the role of sexual selection with respect to speciation rates and extinction rates.