| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 3
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| Affiliation: | [1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, LAGE Dept Ecol, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Macquarie Univ, Dept Biol Sci E8C 209, Eastern Rd, Sydney, NSW 2109 - Australia
[3] Univ Western Australia, Ctr Evolut Biol, Sch Biol Sci M092, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009 - Australia
Total Affiliations: 3
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| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | BIOLOGY LETTERS; v. 17, n. 6 JUN 23 2021. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 0 |
| Abstract | |
In many species, sexual dimorphism increases with body size when males are the larger sex but decreases when females are the larger sex, a macro-evolutionary pattern known as Rensch's rule (RR). Although empirical studies usually focus exclusively on body size, Rensch's original proposal included sexual differences in other traits, such as ornaments and weapons. Here, we used a clade of harvestmen to investigate whether two traits follow RR: body size and length of the fourth pair of legs (legs IV), which are used as weapons in male-male fights. We found that males were slightly smaller than females and body size did not follow RR, whereas legs IV were much longer in males and followed RR. We propose that sexual selection might be stronger on legs IV length than on body size in males, and we discuss the potential role of condition dependence in the emergence of RR. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/06734-1 - Evolution of condition dependent sexual dimorphism in a clade of neotropical arachnids: a comparative analysis of the genic capture hypothesis |
| Grantee: | Diogo Soares Menezes Samia |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |
| FAPESP's process: | 15/10448-4 - Interplay between paternal care and sexual selection in harvestmen |
| Grantee: | Glauco Machado |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |