Synonyms
Definition
Females mix sperm from different males in order to increase the genetic diversity of their offspring.
Introduction
If polyandry is a female strategy, it must benefit the reproductive success of females. By mating with more than one male, females may enhance their fitness through direct or material benefit, such as increased provisioning. The payoff to fitness may also be genetically based. One possible explanation for these genetic benefits is the offspring diversity hypothesis, which states that females mix sperm from different males in order to increase the genetic diversity of their offspring (Williams 1975). Sexually reproducing parents produce genetically variable offspring because recombination of male and female genes produces novel gene combinations (Willams 1975). Genetic contributions from multiple males will result in more novel gene combinations and even greater offspring genetic diversity. Such diversity can improve female...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Aguirre, J. D., & Marshall, D. J. (2011). Does genetic diversity reduce sibling competition? Evolution, 66, 94–102.
Case, T. J., & Taper, M. L. (1986). On the coexistence and coevolution of asexual and sexual competitors. Evolution, 40(2), 366–387.
Garver-Apgar, C. E., Christine, E., Thornhill, R., et al. (2006). Major histocompatibility complex alleles, sexual responsivity, and unfaithfulness in romantic couples. Psychological Science, 17, 830–835.
Jennions, M. D., & Petrie, M. (2000). Why do females mate multiply? A review of the genetic benefits. Biological Reviews, 75, 21–64.
Loman, J., Madsen, T., & Hakansson, T. (1988). Increased fitness from multiple matings, and genetic heterogeneity: A model of a possible mechanism. Oikos, 52(1), 69–72.
Ridley, M. (1993). Clutch size and mating frequency in parasitic hymenoptera. The American Naturalist, 142(5), 893–910.
Scelza, B. A. (2013). Choosy but not chaste: Multiple mating in human females. Evolutionary Anthropology, 22, 259–269.
Starkweather, K. E., & Hames, R. B. (2012). A survey of non-classical polyandry. Human Nature, 23(2), 149–172.
Watson, P. J. (1991). Multiple paternity as genetic bet-hedging in female sierra dome spiders, Linyphia litigiosa (Linyphiidae). Animal Behaviour, 41, 343–360.
Williams, G. C. (1975). Sex and evolution. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Yasui, Y. (2001). Female multiple mating as a genetic bet-hedging strategy when mate choice criteria are unreliable. Ecological Research, 16(4), 605–616.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Starkweather, K. (2016). Offspring Diversity Hypothesis. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_121-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_121-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences