Sex differences in phenotypic plasticity of a mechanism that controls body size: implications for sexual size dimorphism

Stillwell, R. Craig; Davidowitz, Goggy

doi:10.1098/rspb.2010.0895

Cited by 47 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 41 publications

(61 reference statements)

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“…To test for effects of phenotypic manipulation while avoiding effects of different innate preferences, we only used individuals that belonged to a single, brown colour morph in the current experiments. Similarly, we used only females to avoid variation due to behavioural and physiological differences between the sexes (Forsman et al 2002;Stillwell and Davidowitz 2010).…”

Section: Study Species and Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching habitat choice by experimentally mismatched phenotypes

2011

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Gene flow is often regarded a random process that homogenizes differences between populations and constrains local adaptation. However, the matching habitat choice hypothesis posits that individuals actively choose those microhabitats that best match their specific phenotype to maximize fitness. Dispersal (and possibly gene flow) may thus be directed. Many studies report associations between habitats and phenotypes, but they may reflect selection, plasticity or adaptation rather than matching choice. Here, we test two predictions from the matching habitat choice hypothesis by manipulating the dorsal colour of Tetrix subulata, a pygmy grasshopper. (1) Is microhabitat choice flexible such that differently manipulated phenotypes distribute themselves differently in a microclimatic and solar radiation mosaic? (2) If they do, are their fitness prospects higher in the more preferred microhabitat? We find that individuals painted white or black do distribute themselves differently, with black individuals residing in habitats with less radiation, on average, than white individuals, demonstrating that microhabitat choices are plastic. Furthermore, white females had more hatchlings than black ones in the increased radiation treatment, and this was mainly due to increased mortality of black females under increased radiation. These findings provide rare experimental evidence in line with predictions from the matching habitat choice hypothesis.

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Section: Study Species and Experimental Animalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Matching habitat choice by experimentally mismatched phenotypes

2011

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“…Intraspecific variation in sexual size dimorphism stems mainly from sex-specific selection pressure that can differ among populations. However, sex-specific differences in phenotypic plasticity are also partially responsible for such variation [27], [28]. Unfortunately, little is known about how sexual size dimorphism varies throughout ontogeny (but see [29], [30]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender and Timing during Ontogeny Matter: Effects of a Temporary High Temperature on Survival, Body Size and Colouration in Harmonia axyridis

Knapp

Nedvěd

2013

PLoS ONE

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The ambient temperature experienced during development is a crucial factor affecting survival and adult phenotype in ectotherms. Moreover, the exact response of individuals to different temperature regimes is frequently sex-specific. This sex-specific response can result in varying levels of sexual dimorphism according to the experienced conditions. The majority of studies have investigated the effects of temperature on individuals reared under a constant temperature regime throughout their whole preimaginal development, whereas information on stage-dependent variation in temperature effects is scarce. Here we investigate how the stage at which elevated temperature is experienced influences survival, adult body size and colouration in the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis form succinea. The effects of timing of exposure to elevated temperature on the adult phenotype are assessed separately for males and females. Control individuals were reared at a constant temperature of 20°C. Beetles in other treatments were additionally exposed to 33°C for 48 hours during the following developmental stages: egg, 1st to 2nd larval instar, 3rd larval instar, 4th larval instar and pupa. Exposure to an elevated temperature during the early developmental stages resulted in lower survival, but the adult phenotype of survivors was almost unaffected. Exposure to an elevated temperature during the later developmental stages (4th larval instar or pupa) resulted in the decreased melanisation of elytra, decreased structural body size and increased dry mass. Furthermore, the timing of high temperature exposure affected the degree of sexual dimorphism in elytral melanisation and dry mass. We demonstrate that the effects of elevated temperature can vary according to the developmental stage at exposure. Detailed information on how ambient temperature affects the developmental biology of ectotherms is crucial for modeling population growth and predicting the spread of invasive species such as Harmonia axyridis.

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“…Rather than being a nuisance factor that obscures underlying patterns of SSD, sex‐specific growth plasticity can be interpreted as an adaptation in its own right (Stillwell & Davidowitz ; Ceballos & Valenzuela ; Ceballos, Hernández & Valenzuela ; Bonneaud et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Support for both hypotheses has come from studies on several taxa, mainly invertebrates (Stillwell & Davidowitz ; Bonneaud et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Resource availability and sexual size dimorphism: differential effects of prey abundance on the growth rates of tropical snakes

2017

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Summary Broad phylogenetic patterns in sexual size dimorphism (SSD) are shaped by sex differences in net selection pressures (e.g. sexual selection, fecundity selection, survival selection), but environmental and ecological factors can also affect the expression of SSD. Discussions of proximate ecological influences on SSD have focused on niche divergence; for example, increase in a prey type used by only one sex can elevate growth rates of that sex but not the other. Food limitation also can generate spatial and temporal variation in SSD. Under restricted prey abundance, curtailed growth may mask SSD even if the optimal size is greater for one sex than the other. Because an increase in food availability elicits increased feeding and growth by the sex that benefits more from increased body size, variation in prey abundance can generate variation in SSD. We used mark‐recapture methods to study growth rates relative to prey (frog) abundance in two species of sexually dimorphic colubrid snake species in tropical Australia. In slatey‐grey snakes (Stegonotus cucullatus), a species in which larger body size enhances reproductive output in both sexes (because larger males win combat bouts, and larger females produce more/heavier eggs), increased abundance of frogs caused equivalent increases in growth rates in both sexes and hence did not affect SSD. In keelbacks (Tropidonophis mairii), a species in which larger size enhances reproductive output in females more than males (reflecting a lack of male–male combat), increased abundance of frogs elicited higher growth rates of females only. Thus, SSD in keelbacks was modified by prey abundance. Our results show that the magnitude of sex differences in adult body size can be influenced by proximate environmental factors and support the hypothesis of sex‐specific targets for maximum feeding rates. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12877/suppinfo is available for this article.

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Sex differences in phenotypic plasticity of a mechanism that controls body size: implications for sexual size dimorphism

Cited by 47 publications

References 41 publications

Matching habitat choice by experimentally mismatched phenotypes

Matching habitat choice by experimentally mismatched phenotypes

Gender and Timing during Ontogeny Matter: Effects of a Temporary High Temperature on Survival, Body Size and Colouration in Harmonia axyridis

Resource availability and sexual size dimorphism: differential effects of prey abundance on the growth rates of tropical snakes

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