Emerging issues in the evolution of animal nuptial gifts

Citation

Lewis SM, Vahed K, Koene JM, Engqvist L, Bussiere L, Perry JC, Gwynne DT & Lehmann GUC (2014) Emerging issues in the evolution of animal nuptial gifts. Biology Letters, 10 (7), Art. No.: 20140336. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0336

Abstract
Uniquely positioned at the intersection of sexual selection, nutritional ecology and life-history theory, nuptial gifts are widespread and diverse. Despite extensive empirical study, we still have only a rudimentary understanding of gift evolution because we lack a unified conceptual framework for considering these traits. In this opinion piece, we tackle several issues that we believe have substantively hindered progress in this area. Here, we: (i) present a comprehensive definition and classification scheme for nuptial gifts (including those transferred by simultaneous hermaphrodites), (ii) outline evolutionary predictions for different gift types, and (iii) highlight some research directions to help facilitate progress in this field.

Keywords
sexual conflict; spermatophore; simultaneous hermaphrodite

Journal
Biology Letters: Volume 10, Issue 7