The evolution of risky behaviour in the presence of a sexually transmitted disease

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Michael Boots, Robert J Knell

Abstract

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are widespread in nature, often sterilizing their hosts or causing other pathogenic effects. Despite this, there is a widespread occurrence of behaviours that are likely to increase the risk to an individual of contracting an STD. Here, we examine the evolution of behaviours such as promiscuity or mate choice that increase the risk of contracting an STD, but also provide a fitness benefit. As might be expected, the balance between risk and fitness benefit defines the optimal strategy, but this relationship is not straightforward. In particular, we often predict the coexistence of highly risky and highly risk-averse individuals. Surprisingly, very safe strategists that only suffer a small cost will tend to coexist with highly risky strategists rather than outcompete them as might have been expected. Rather than selecting for monogamy or for reduced mate choice, therefore, the presence of an STD may often lead to variability in either promiscuity or mate choice.

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Citations

Jun 25, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Hanna KokkoAlasdair I Houston
Jan 5, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Valerie CurtisRobert Aunger
Nov 2, 2011·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Joshua M Tybur, Steven W Gangestad
Jan 23, 2013·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Ben Ashby, Sunetra Gupta
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Oct 17, 2014·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·David V McLeod, Troy Day
Oct 3, 2015·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Ben Ashby, Michael Boots
Jul 25, 2009·Trends in Parasitology·Simon BlanchetGéraldine Loot
Mar 14, 2009·Comptes rendus biologies·Dominique PontierFrank Sauvage
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Sep 16, 2004·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Robert J Knell, K Mary Webberley
May 3, 2008·Molecular Ecology·Tobias Uller, Mats Olsson
Sep 10, 2010·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·L A Jordan, R C Brooks
Nov 17, 2019·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Ben Ashby
Jul 13, 2021·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Naerhulan HalimubiekeBen Ashby

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