Toh, Kai Xin and Yap, Sean and Goh, Thary Gazi and Puniamoorthy, Nalini (2022) Sexual size dimorphism and male reproductive traits vary across populations of a tropical rainforest dung beetle species (Onthophagus babirussa). Ecology and Evolution, 12 (9). ISSN 2045-7758, DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9279.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) arises when natural selection and sexual selection act differently on males and females. Male-biased SSD is rarer in insects and usually indicates strong sexual selection pressure on male body size in a species. Patterns of SSD can also vary between populations of species that are exposed to different environmental conditions, such as differing resource availability and diversity. Here, we investigate intraspecific variation in SSD as well as relative investment in precopulatory (horn length) and postcopulatory traits (sperm length and testes weight) in a tropical rainforest dung beetle Onthophagus babirussa across Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia. Overall, three out of four populations displayed significant male-biased SSD, and SSD was greater in populations with smaller overall body size. Average male body size was similar across all populations while female body size was significantly smaller in Singapore, suggesting that the pronounced SSD may also be due to stronger sexual selection on male body size in Singapore populations. All populations showed significant investment in horns as a weapon likely used in male-male competition, while postcopulatory traits showed no clear scaling relationship with body size, suggesting a higher priority on precopulatory sexual traits in the mating system of this species.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Ministry of Education, Singapore [R154-000-C32-114], Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund [R-154-000-B65-720] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Dung beetle; Reproductive evolution; Sexual selection; Sexual size dimorphism; Southeast Asia |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Sep 2023 03:08 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Sep 2023 03:08 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/41328 |
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