fitness advantage of a high-performance weapon

Weapons used in combat between males are usually attributed to sexual selection, which operates via a fitness advantage for males with weapons of better 'quality'. Because the performance capacity of morphological traits is typically considered the direct target of selection, Darwin's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological journal of the Linnean Society 2009-04, Vol.96 (4), p.840-845
Main Authors: HUSAK, JERRY F, LAPPIN, A. KRISTOPHER, VAN DEN BUSSCHE, RONALD A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphibia. Reptilia
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
bite force
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Lacertilia
lizard
lizards
sexual dimorphism
sexual selection
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
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Summary:Weapons used in combat between males are usually attributed to sexual selection, which operates via a fitness advantage for males with weapons of better 'quality'. Because the performance capacity of morphological traits is typically considered the direct target of selection, Darwin's intrasexual selection hypothesis can be modified to predict that variation in reproductive success should be explained by variation in performance traits relevant to combat. Despite such a straightforward prediction, tests of this hypothesis are conspicuously lacking. We show that territorial male collared lizards with greater bite-force capacity sire more offspring than weaker biting rivals but exhibit no survival advantage. We did not detect stabilizing or disruptive selection on bite-force capacity. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that superior weapon performance provides a fitness advantage through increased success in male contests. Sexual selection on weapon performance therefore appears to be a force driving the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism in head shape.
ISSN:0024-4066
1095-8312
DOI:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2008.01176.x