Sex And Space Destabilize Intransitive Competition Within And Between Species

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Genetics
Article Date: 15 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Many species participate in nature's version of rock-paper-scissors games, in which rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. Because no one type is better than all others, such games are a powerful force promoting biodiversity.

But what if two of the players in the game belong to the same species with many intermediate forms, as recently demonstrated for plant-plant interactions?

A mathematical model of this situation reveals that with sexual reproduction and interactions only with neighboring organisms - factors generally thought to promote ecological stability - rock-paper-scissors games are greatly destabilized, thereby enhancing extinction risk, and reducing biodiversity.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences