The role of secondary sexual characters in the Ruminantia (Mammalia) net diversification

• Grant number: 15/02481-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2015
• End date: November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Theoretical Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Bosisio Quental
• Grantee: Matheus Januario Lopes de Sousa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/04072-3 - The role of extinction and speciation rates, and the effect of different levels of biological organization on the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, AP.JP

Abstract

Sexual selection is known as an important evolutionary engine, responsible for the appearance of secondary sexual characters. The interest in these characters is partially due to the extravagance of these structures, but also because of the ecological meaning and costs (in individual and collective fitness) associated with these characters. Traditionally, evolutionary studies investigate the costs and benefits of these structures at the individual level, but in this study we will focus on the impact of different secondary sexual characters in the lineage net diversification, using the taxa in the Ruminantia (Mammalia) group. Special attention will be given to characters used in combat between individuals of the same sex, (e.g. horns and antlers). The different transition, speciation and extinction rates associated with secondary sexual characters or a combination of these characters will be estimated using likelihood and Bayesian methods. Using this strategy, we intent to investigate if the evolution of armaments results in some kind of evolutionary cost (e.g. high extinction rates) that could be inferred from the net diversification of the ruminants.