Sexually selected weapons can wear out, decreasing their effectiveness in combat

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2027)

Published: July 16, 2024

Sexual selection has resulted in some of the most elaborate traits seen animals, many which are used as weapons. These weapons can be incredibly diverse, even within species. Such morphological variation largely been attributed to environment individuals reared and their genetics. However, weapon form could also result a wearing out from usage. This mechanism received relatively little attention. In this study, we demonstrate that sexually selected wear repeated use, providing experimental evidence usage contribute diversity shapes observed second experiment, having worn-out decreases an individual’s fighting ability. finding illustrates shape have important role determining contest outcomes. Overall, these results suggest limited number times they effectively use weapons, may one factor (among others) influencing how frequently animal engages fight.

Language: Английский

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Selection on weapon allometry in the wild

Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 77(9), P. 2090 - 2099

Published: July 3, 2023

Abstract Allometry is the scaling relationship between a trait and body size. This can often explain considerable morphological variation within among species. Nevertheless, much remains unknown about factors that underlie allometric patterns. For example, when different relationships are observed amongst closely related species, these differences regularly considered to be products of selection. However, directional selection on allometry (particularly slope) has rarely been tested in natural populations. Here, we investigate weapon size (i.e., allometry) wild population giant mesquite bugs, Pachylis neocalifornicus (previously Thasus neocalifornicus). Males this species use their weapons (enlarged femurs) compete with one another over access resources females. We found large males relatively successfully secured mates. also small could mates as well. These two patterns together increase slope sexually selected weapon, suggesting straightforward process by which evolve.

Language: Английский

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Sexually selected shields: male–male combat can promote the evolution of damage-reducing structures

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 211, P. 123 - 130

Published: March 11, 2024

Language: Английский

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Extreme range in adult body size reveals hidden trade-offs among sexually selected traits

Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 78(8), P. 1382 - 1395

Published: June 20, 2024

Sexually selected weapons used to monopolize mating opportunities are predicted trade-off with traits in competition for fertilization. Yet, the limited size range typically found among adults of a species often precludes clear comparisons between population-level and individual-level relative trait investment. The jousting weevil, Brentus anchorago (Coleoptera: Brentidae), varies more than 26-fold body mass, which is most extreme adult ranges any solitary terrestrial species. We reveal at population level: hypermetric scaling male (slope = 1.59) closely mirrored reversal allocation postcopulatory 0.54). individual level, we find opposite pattern; males that invest relatively their class also traits. Across 36 dung beetle 41 brentine weevil species, allometric slope explains variation larger ranges; brentines, patterns become detectable size. Our findings allometries trade-offs can both be important shaping allocation; highlight rarely examined but may integral gaining deeper understanding reproductive allocation.

Language: Английский

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Sexual dimorphism in head size in wild burying beetles

Ecological Entomology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 49(6), P. 846 - 856

Published: June 26, 2024

Abstract The burying beetle ( Nicrophorus vespilloides ) is thought to be predominantly sexually monomorphic. Males carry an additional abdominal segment and produce pheromones, but otherwise the sexes are alike. Both bear bright orange bands on their black elytra, which probably function as part of a warning display rather than in mate choice. In wild populations, do not differ mean body size, nor its variation. Here we describe form sexual size dimorphism populations that has previously been overlooked. We show males have wider heads females, for any given pronotum width (body size), scaling relationship between head hyperallometric males, isometric females. also how absolute width, well extent differs among seven inhabiting different woodlands within c.10 km each other. suggest functionally related bite force. hypothesise could due divergent selection arising from task specialisation during biparental care, duties care favoured by likely require greater

Language: Английский

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