Sexual selection on skeletal shape in Carnivora

Lifetime reproductive success of males is often dependent upon the ability to physically compete for mates. However, species variation in social structure leads to differences in the relative importance of intraspecific aggression. Here, we present a large comparative dataset on sexual dimorphism in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evolution 2016-04, Vol.70 (4), p.767-780
Main Authors: Morris, Jeremy S., Carrier, David R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Aggressiveness
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animals
Body Size
Carnivora
Carnivora - anatomy & histology
Female
functional trade-offs
Hypotheses
locomotion
Male
Reproduction
Sex Characteristics
Sexual Behavior, Animal
sexual dimorphism
Skeleton - anatomy & histology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Lifetime reproductive success of males is often dependent upon the ability to physically compete for mates. However, species variation in social structure leads to differences in the relative importance of intraspecific aggression. Here, we present a large comparative dataset on sexual dimorphism in skeletal shape in Carnivora to test the hypotheses that carnivorans exhibit sexual dimorphism in skeletal anatomy that is reflective of greater specialization for physical aggression in males relative to females and that this dimorphism is associated with the intensity of sexual selection. We tested these hypotheses using a set of functional indices predicted to improve aggressive performance. Our results indicate that skeletal shape dimorphism is widespread within our sample. Functional traits thought to enhance aggressive performance are more pronounced in males. Phylogenetic model selection suggests that the evolution of this dimorphism is driven by sexual selection, with the best-fitting model indicating greater dimorphism in polygynous versus nonpolygynous species. Skeletal shape dimorphism is correlated with body size dimorphism, a common indicator of the intensity of male–male competition, but not with mean body size. These results represent the first evidence of sexual dimorphism in the primary locomotor system of a large sample of mammals.
ISSN:0014-3820
1558-5646
DOI:10.1111/evo.12904