Sexually selected traits evolve positive allometry when some matings occur irrespective of the trait
Abstract
Positive allometry of secondary sexual traits (whereby larger individuals have disproportionally larger traits than smaller individuals) has been called one of the most pervasive and poorly understood regularities in the study of animal form and function. Its widespread occurrence is in contrast with theoretical predictions that it should evolve only under rather special circumstances. Using a combination of mathematical modeling and simulations, here we show that positive allometry is predicted to evolve under much broader conditions than previously recognized. This result hinges on the assumption that mating success is not necessarily zero for males with the lowest trait values: for example, a male who lacks horns or antlers might still be able to copulate if encountering an unguarded female. We predict the strongest positive allometry when males typically (but not always) compete in large groups, and when trait differences decisively determine the outcome of competitive interactions.
Main Authors
Format
Articles
Research article
Published
2014
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.; Society for the Study of Evolution
Original source
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1558-5646
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-201407032206Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0014-3820
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12349
Language
English
Published in
Evolution
Citation
- Fromhage, L., & Kokko, H. (2014). Sexually selected traits evolve positive allometry when some matings occur irrespective of the trait. Evolution, 68(5), 1332-1338. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.12349
Additional information about funding
HK was supported by the Australian Research Council and the Academy of Finland.
Copyright© 2014 The Author(s). Evolution © 2014 The Society for the Study of Evolution. This is a final draft version of an article whose final and definitive form has been published by Wiley-Blackwell.