Abstract
Sexual conflict occurs because males and females are exposed to different selection pressures. This can affect many aspects of female and male biology, such as physiology, behavior, genetics, and even population ecology. Its broad impact has caused widespread interest in sexual conflict. However, a key aspect of sexual conflict is often confused; it comprises two distinct forms: intralocus and interlocus sexual conflict (IASC and IRSC). Although both are caused by sex differences in selection, they operate via different proximate and ultimate mechanisms. Intralocus sexual conflict and IRSC are often not clearly defined as separate processes in the scientific literature, which impedes a proper understanding of each form as well as of their relative impact on sexual conflict. Furthermore, our current knowledge of the genetics of these phenomena is severely limited. This prevents us from empirically testing numerous theories regarding the role of these two forms of sexual conflict in evolution. Here, we clarify the distinction between IASC and IRSC, by discussing how male and female interests differ, how and when sex‐specific adaptation occurs, and how this may lead to evolutionary change. We then describe a framework for their study, focusing on how future experiments may help identify the genetics underlying these phenomena. Through this, we hope to promote a more critical reflection on IASC and IRSC as well as underline the necessity of genetic and mechanistic studies of these two phenomena.
Highlights
Males and females are often exposed to different selective pressures leading to sex‐specific adaptations, resulting in sexual dimorphism in traits such as behavior, body size, and coloration (Parker, Baker, & Smith, 1972)
The observation that males and females are differently selected upon can result in two evolutionary conflicts between the sexes: IASC and IRSC
Theoretical explorations of IASC and IRSC have yielded a variety of predictions on their evolutionary dynamics
Summary
Males and females are often exposed to different selective pressures leading to sex‐specific adaptations, resulting in sexual dimorphism in traits such as behavior, body size, and coloration (Parker, Baker, & Smith, 1972). IRSC occurs when males and females interact (e.g., during reproduction) but the male’s and the female’s fitness are maximized under differ‐ ent conditions (Chapman, Arnqvist, Bangham, & Rowe, 2003; Parker, 1979); IRSC is defined as a conflict between male and fe‐ male individuals over the outcome of interactions between them These definitions already highlight an essential difference be‐ tween IASC and IRSC. Intralocus sexual conflict IASC and IRSC differ vastly in the un‐ derlying genetic architecture, and concomitantly in the relation‐ ship between genetic variation, sex, and individual fitness This in turn results in different predictions regarding the evolutionary. TA B L E 1 Intralocus sexual conflict and IRSC are both caused by sex differences in selective pressures Despite this common origin, they show distinct differences in various conflict aspects involving among others fitness, adaptation, and evolution. We outline some common pitfalls in the discussion of IASC and IRSC and provide some guidelines about how to navigate around them
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