Why would parthenogenetic females systematically produce males who never transmit their genes to females?

Abstract

SummaryIn pseudogamous species, females use the sperm of males from another species to activate their oocytes and produce females, without using the sperm DNA. Here we report a novel reproductive strategy found in the pseudogamous nematode Mesorhabditis belari, which produces its own males at low frequency. We find that the 8% of M. belari males are necessary to fertilize all oocytes but pass on their genes only to males, and never to females. Thus, the production of males has no impact on the genetic diversity of females. Using game theory, we show that the production of males at low frequency constitutes an efficient strategy only if sons are more likely to mate with their sisters. We validate this prediction experimentally by revealing a mating preference between siblings. We uncover the remarkable reproductive strategy of parthenogenetic females that pay the cost of producing males while males do not spread their genes.