Intraspecific variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism in frugivorous bats

• Grant number: 12/20601-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Nogueira Rossi
• Grantee: Carina Maria Vela Ulian
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A central question in ecology and evolutionary biology is based on the understanding of body size variation. As large individuals usually represent increased fitness, studying patterns of body size variation is relevant. Additionally, it is known that males and females may respond differently in body size to environmental variations, modifying patterns of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). For some mammals, consistent patterns of SSD have been found when associated with latitude and altitude, even though some inconsistent patterns have also emerged; hence, more studies are needed, mainly in tropical areas. For bats, very few are currently known about body size and SSD variation across altitudinal clines. In this study, body size variation across an altitudinal cline will be investigated in frugivorous bats, determining whether the sex and the developmental stages of individuals interfere in the degree of body size variation. After that, the SSD will be studied across an altitudinal cline, examining whether data follows the Rensch's rule. Bats will be caught at different locations located along the Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira, establishing an altitudinal cline. To answer the proposed questions, biometrical data will be collected from each location, and body size will be estimated from adult and young individuals for both sexes. Finally, SSD will be calculated for adult bats.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ULIAN, CARINA M. V.; ROSSI, MARCELO N.. Intraspecific variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism, and a test of Rensch's rule in bats. ACTA ZOOLOGICA, v. 98, n. 4, p. 377-386, OCT 2017. (12/20601-6)