Female preferences for large, heavy mates inSchistocerca americana (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Kosal, Erica; Niedzlek-Feaver, M.

doi:10.1007/bf02765388

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…The results also suggest that the duration of guarding can be dictated by contests between males, because large males displaced small males while copulating or guarding, and resisted takeover attempts from other, smaller males. Alternatively, females may prefer to mate with large males (Kosal & Niedzlek‐Feaver 1997). It is not clear, however, why a large proportion of females remains unmated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of body size in mating success of Sphenarium purpurascens in Central Mexico

Castillo¹,

Núñez‐Farfán²,

Cano‐Santana³

1999

Ecological Entomology

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Summary 1. The effect of body size on the assortative mating and reproductive behaviour of the univoltine grasshopper Sphenarium purpurascens (Charpentier) was studied in Central Mexico. 2. Assortative mating by size was observed in the field. Evidence of positive assortative mating in relation to body size was found in laboratory experiments. Female fecundity and male success in contests were also correlated with body size. 3. Larger females had a higher number of eggs per pod. Larger males usually won fights and were able to take over females from other males, and to resist takeovers by other males while guarding. 4. Individuals of both sexes were observed copulating with more than one sexual partner in the field, suggesting polygamy. Male–male contests determined access to females, and males exhibited a postcopulatory prolonged mate‐guarding behaviour lasting up to 18 days. 5. In a 2‐year study, sex ratio was male‐biased at the beginning of the reproductive season and decreased to 1:1 by the end of the season, suggesting that the population is protandrous. 6. The results of this study indicate that assortative mating results from male–male competition and female availability, and suggests that body size is a potential target of natural and sexual selection.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of body size in mating success of Sphenarium purpurascens in Central Mexico

Castillo¹,

Núñez‐Farfán²,

Cano‐Santana³

1999

Ecological Entomology

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“…The present findings of higher assortative mating and preference for larger males as mates, substantiates previous reports (e.g. Brown, ; Goulson et al ., ; Kosal & Niedzlek‐Feaver, ; Harari et al ., ; Bonduriasky, ; Woodward et al ., ). Large‐sized males are believed to have better genes and thus more sperm supply (Phelan & Barker, ; Bissoondath & Wiklund, ); the latter being substantiated by the higher percent egg viability in pairs with larger males in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Darwin's fecundity advantage hypothesis in Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata

Omkar

Afaq

2012

Insect Science

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In the Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), variation in body size exists between and within the sexes. The females are larger than the males. Darwin (1874) proposed the fecundity advantage hypothesis, that is, large‐sized females produce more progeny, with subsequent studies supporting, as well as, refuting the hypothesis. Thus, in order to evaluate whether this hypothesis stands in Z. bicolorata we performed experiments to investigate the role of body size in influencing: (i) assortative mating; (ii) reproductive attributes; and (iii) growth, development and survival of offspring. It is the first attempt in this beetle. We found that size influenced assortative mating, reproductive output and offspring fitness. Larger males and females were preferred as mates over smaller ones. The pairs, having larger adults as mates, had higher fecundity, while the egg viability was influenced by the male size only. The offspring of larger parents had fast development and higher survival, indicating thereby possible better nutrient allotment by the female and supply of accessory gland proteins by the male in addition to better quality of genes.

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“…Within grasshopper species, size and mass variables are usually highly correlated (e.g., Shotwell 1941;Norris 1950Norris , 1952Blackith & Verdier 1960;Farrow 1982;Atkinson & Begon 1988;Kosal & Niedzlek-Feaver 1997), but the situation for reproductive variables is less clear. Some authors have found that ovariole number, clutch size, egg size, or oocyte development rates are associated with body size (Norris 1950(Norris , 1952Richards & Waloff 1954;Blackith & Blackith 1968;Farrow 1975Farrow , 1982White & Contreras 1979;Hugueny & Louveaux 1986;Atkinson & Begon 1987, 1988Butlin et al 1987;Ritchie et al 1987;Wall & Begon 1987;Landa 1992;Moehrlin & Juliano 1998;Hatle et al 2002;Danner & Joern 2004), whereas others have not (Smith 1972, Dearn 1977, Atkinson & Begon 1987, Ritchie et al 1987, Luker et al 2002.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others explored body size and fecundity as a consequence of different nutrition, crowding, phase state, season, age, temperature, photoperiod, wing length, mating status, or predation risk. In some grasshoppers, fecundity is influenced by number of matings (Walker et al 1999), and in others, larger individuals mate more (Cueva del Castillo & Núñez-Farfán 2002, Cueva del Castillo 2003, or females prefer large males (Kosal & Niedzlek-Feaver 1997). An additional confounding factor is that time to lay in some species is influenced by environment-induced reproductive diapause (see Uvarov 1977, Weissman & French, 1980, Weissman 1979, Lightfoot & Weissman 1991 or social factors (Stauffer & Whitman 1997, Stauffer et al 1998.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of body size and fecundity in a grasshopper

Akman¹,

Whitman²

2008

Journal of Orthoptera Research

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Female preferences for large, heavy mates inSchistocerca americana (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Cited by 17 publications

References 50 publications

The role of body size in mating success of Sphenarium purpurascens in Central Mexico

The role of body size in mating success of Sphenarium purpurascens in Central Mexico

Evaluation of Darwin's fecundity advantage hypothesis in Parthenium beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata

Analysis of body size and fecundity in a grasshopper

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