On Forces of Selection in the Evolution of Mating Types

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Abstract
The origin, multiplication, and limitation of numbers of mating types in theoretical, primitive eucaryotic protists are considered in the context of interindividual selection. Mating types may have evolved in response to selection for outbreeding when random mating often resulted in inbreeding and individuals of different mating types were on average more genetically different than individuals of the same type. Sexual selection probably originated with mate choice in primitive eucaryotic protists. More than 2 mating types may persist in some populations because acceptability as a pairing partner to as many other individuals as possible may be advantageous, and/or the advantages of outbreeding may be partly countered by the advantages of adaptation to particular environments; the latter advantage is most likely to exist in a population subdivided into relatively severe but predictable habitat patches. The maximum number of mating types in a population is probably limited by selection against genetically incompatible pairing, competition between members of different mating types, and the between-sexes-choice form of sexual selection operating against genetically incompatible and/or competitively inferior individuals.

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