Hello,
Q. why Parent-Offspring conflict might vary within a single
species?
Answer-
- Parent-Offspring conflict occurs in
sexually reproducing species and it is based on a genetic
conflict.
- Parents are equally related to each
of their offspring and are therefore expected to equalize their
investment among them.
- Offspring are only half or less
related to their siblings, so they try to get more the parents
intended to provide even at their siblings' disadvantage.
- However the Parent-Offspring
conflict is limited by the close genetic relationship between
parent and offspring.
- If an offspring obtains additional
PI at the expense of its siblings, it decreases the number of its
surviving siblings.
- Therefore, any gene in an offspring
that leads to additional PI decreases the number of surviving
copies of itself that may be located in siblings.
- Thus, if the costs in siblings are
too high such a gene might be selected against despite the benefit
to the offspring.
Thanking You!