Macroevolutionary pattern of sexual size dimorphism in geckos corresponds to intraspecific temperature-induced variation
Language English Country Great Britain, England Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
20487136
DOI
10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.01933.x
PII: JEB1933
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Biological Evolution * MeSH
- Species Specificity MeSH
- Lizards anatomy & histology physiology MeSH
- Sex Characteristics * MeSH
- Temperature * MeSH
- Body Size physiology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Many animal lineages exhibit allometry in sexual size dimorphism (SSD), known as 'Rensch's rule'. When applied to the interspecific level, this rule states that males are more evolutionary plastic in body size than females and that male-biased SSD increases with body size. One of the explanations for the occurrence of Rensch's rule is the differential-plasticity hypothesis assuming that higher evolutionary plasticity in males is a consequence of larger sensitivity of male growth to environmental cues. We have confirmed the pattern consistent with Rensch's rule among species of the gecko genus Paroedura and followed the ontogeny of SSD at three constant temperatures in a male-larger species (Paroedura picta). In this species, males exhibited larger temperature-induced phenotypic plasticity in final body size than females, and body size and SSD correlated across temperatures. This result supports the differential-plasticity hypothesis and points to the role phenotypic plasticity plays in generating of evolutionary novelties.
References provided by Crossref.org
Recombination plasticity in response to temperature variation in reptiles
Sex-specific growth arrest in a lizard
Individual and age-related variation of cellular brain composition in a squamate reptile
