Sexual Selection on Non-Ornamental Traits Is Underpinned by Evidence of Genetic Constraints on Sex-Biased Expression in Dusky Pipefish.

ABSTRACT: Species lacking distinct secondary sex characteristics, such as differences in size or morphology, are often thought to experience lower levels of sex-specific selection in comparison to highly sexually dimorphic organisms. However, monomorphism in classic visible traits could be a result of genetic or physiological constraints that prevent the sexes from reaching divergent fitness optima. Additionally, biochemical and molecular work have revealed a variety of less easily observed phenotypes that nonetheless exhibit profound dimorphism. Sex-specific selection could act on these more subtle, less visible, traits. We investigate sex-specific selection in the polygynandrous dusky pipefish (Syngnathus floridae), which lacks distinct secondary sexual characteristics such as size, colour and mor

SUBMITTER: Tosto NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12288820 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature