Novel host plant leads to the loss of sexual dimorphism in a sexually selected male weapon.

ABSTRACT: In this time of massive global change, species are now frequently interacting with novel players. Greater insight into the impact of these novel interactions on traits linked to fitness is essential, because effects on these traits can hinder population existence or promote rapid adaptation. Sexually selected weapons and ornaments frequently influence fitness and often have heightened condition-dependence in response to nutrition. Condition-dependence in response to different ecological conditions, a form of developmental plasticity, may be responsible for much of the intraspecific variation in sexually selected ornaments and weapons in wild populations. Here we examined the consequences of developing on a novel plant for the expression of size and shape in the leaf-footed cactus bug Na

SUBMITTER: Allen PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5563817 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature