No association between sexual size dimorphism and life histories in spiders

Prenter, John; Elwood, Robert W.; Montgomery, W. Ian

doi:10.1098/rspb.1998.0264

Cited by 82 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Although sexual size dimorphism is common in spiders (15)(16)(17), it is extreme in the cobweb spider, Tidarren (Araneae, Theridiidae) (18)(19)(20). In this genus, sexual size dimorphism results from a decrease in male size (19,21,22) and an increase in female size (20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Overcoming an evolutionary conflict: Removal of a reproductive organ greatly increases locomotor performance

Ramos

Irschick

Christenson

2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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One potential consequence of sexual size dimorphism is conflict among characters. For example, a structure evolved for reproduction can impair performance during other activities (e.g., locomotion). Here we provide quantitative evidence for an animal overcoming an evolutionary conflict generated by differential scaling and sexual size dimorphism by obligatorily removing an undamaged reproductive organ, and thus dramatically enhancing its locomotor performance. The spider genus Tidarren (Araneae, Theridiidae) is interesting because, within several species presenting extreme sexual size dimorphism (males representing Ϸ1% of the total mass of the female), males voluntarily remove one of their two disproportionately large pedipalps (modified copulatory organs; a single one represents Ϸ10% of the body mass in an adult) before achieving sexual maturity. Whether the left or right pedipalp is removed appears to be random. Previous researchers have hypothesized that pedipalp removal might enhance locomotor performance, a prediction that has remained untested. We found that, for male Tidarren sisyphoides, maximum speed increased (44%) significantly and endurance increased (63%) significantly after pedipalp removal. Furthermore, spiders with one pedipalp moved Ϸ300% greater distances before exhaustion and had a higher survival after exertion than those with two pedipalps. Removal of the pedipalp may have evolved in male Tidarren because of enhanced abilities to search for females (higher endurance and survival after exertion) and to out-compete rival males on the female's web (higher maximum speed). Our data also highlight how the evolution of conflicts can result in the evolution of a novel behavior.A central tenet of optimality theory is that natural selection will optimize structure and performance resulting in an overall highly fit organism (1, 2). Many studies, however, have shown that the evolution of high performance in one task can lead to decreased performance during another task (e.g., refs. 3-5). In extreme cases of such apparent conflicts, a structure evolved for one activity can substantially impair performance during another activity. For example, Darwin (6) described how sexual selection for sex differences might lead to such functional conflicts, particularly in males. He depicted how the relatively elaborate feathers in some male birds result in enhanced reproductive success via female mate choice, yet also reduces or constrains flight capacities, thus potentially making the animal more susceptible to predators (7). A relatively unexplored area is how organisms cope with these constraints imposed by factors such as sexual selection, natural selection, or allometry. One view of constraints is that they limit or hinder morphological or behavioral change, but another possibility is that constraints can result in a novel phenotype or behavior (8, 9). For example, as plethodontid salamanders undergo evolutionary miniaturization (become smaller), they shift from a terrestrial to an arboreal lifestyle (10). This ...

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confidence: 99%

Overcoming an evolutionary conflict: Removal of a reproductive organ greatly increases locomotor performance

Ramos

Irschick

Christenson

2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Unique secondary sexual characters have clearly evolved only in males, but increasing numbers of studies document evolution only in females, in some cases via loss in females of character states that evolved earlier in both sexes (Bjö rklund 1991a,b;Wright 1993;Emerson 1994;Irwin 1994;Andersen 1997;Burns 1998;Wiens 1999Wiens , 2001Emlen 2000;Figuerola and Green 2000). Similarly, recent phylogenetic studies on size dimorphism have reported a variety of pathways to extant patterns (e.g., Coddington et al 1997;Fairbairn 1997;Prenter et al 1998;Hormiga et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Morphological and Behavioral Ontogenies in Females of a Highly Dimorphic Clade of Blennioid Fishes

Hastings

2002

Evolution

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Abstract.Comparison of ontogenetic trajectories with those inferred for ancestors provides a powerful but underused tool for the study of the evolution of different types of phenotypic characters. This approach was used to study morphological and behavioral evolution of the highly dimorphic chaenopsid genus Coralliozetus (Teleostei: Blennioidei). All sexually dimorphic synapomorphies of Coralliozetus involved evolution in females only; one character evolved via terminal addition (peramorphosis), whereas six evolved via terminal deletion (paedomorphosis). Evolution of the ontogeny of two behavioral characters (microhabitat use and feeding rate), as inferred by focal animal observations of eight species of tube blennies, was also confined to females and conformed to terminal deletion. Both sexes of outgroups and males of all species of Coralliozetus exhibit an ontogenetic shift from the open as juveniles to shelters as adults. However, females of all species of Coralliozetus retain the juvenile behavior of residing in the open. Blennies residing in the open take significantly more feeding bites than conspecifics residing in shelters, consequently, female Coralliozetus retain the high feeding rate of juveniles. Several of the paedomorphic morphological features of Coralliozetus females are plausibly associated with their paedomorphosis in microhabitat use. These include their reduced conspicuousness and reduced robustness compared to conspecific males. In groups such as chaenopsids, which undergo significant ontogenetic changes in microhabitat, paedomorphosis provides a mechanism for rapid coevolution of behavior and morphology. This study, the first to document the evolution of sexual dimorphism via both behavioral and morphological paedomorphosis, demonstrates the unique insights to be gained from a multidimensional analysis of phenotypic evolution.

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“…Sexual size dimorphism is common in several families; e.g., Araneidae (Foelix 1996;Roberts 1996), and the evolution of spider size dimorphism has been much discussed (Vollrath & Parker 1992;Coddington et al 1997;Vollrath 1998;Prenter et al 1997Prenter et al , 1999. For instance, in web-builders it has been argued that males spend more time searching for females that are often sedentary in their webs.…”

Section: Selective Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Female Spiders Select Heavier Males for the Genes for Behavioral Aggressiveness They Offer Their Offspring?

Riechert¹,

Johns²

2003

Evol

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No association between sexual size dimorphism and life histories in spiders

Cited by 82 publications

References 32 publications

Overcoming an evolutionary conflict: Removal of a reproductive organ greatly increases locomotor performance

Overcoming an evolutionary conflict: Removal of a reproductive organ greatly increases locomotor performance

Evolution of Morphological and Behavioral Ontogenies in Females of a Highly Dimorphic Clade of Blennioid Fishes

Do Female Spiders Select Heavier Males for the Genes for Behavioral Aggressiveness They Offer Their Offspring?

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