Evolution of sexual dimorphism and Rensch's rule in the beetle genus Limnebius (Hydraenidae): is sexual selection opportunistic?

ABSTRACT: Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread among animals, with larger females usually attributed to an optimization of resources in reproduction and larger males to sexual selection. A general pattern in the evolution of SSD is Rensch's rule, which states that SSD increases with body size in species with larger males but decreases when females are larger. We studied the evolution of SSD in the genus Limnebius (Coleoptera, Hydraenidae), measuring SSD and male genital size and complexity of ca. 80% of its 150 species and reconstructing its evolution in a molecular phylogeny with 71 species. We found strong support for a higher evolutionary lability of male body size, which had an overall positive allometry with respect to females and higher evolutionary rates measured over the individ

SUBMITTER: Rudoy A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5344018 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature