The persistence of haplodiploidy in algae.

Haplodiploid life cycles are especially well represented among the eukaryotic algae. The widespread retention of haplodiploidy among diverse algal groups provides us with the opportunity to consider haplodiploidy as a stable rather than transitional life history trait and to speculate on the selective mechanisms that could be responsible for its persistence. In doing so, we could gain added insights into the evolution of sex itself.