Sex-specific covariance between metabolic rate, behaviour and morphology in the ground beetle Carabus hortensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Individuals within the same species often differ in their metabolic rates, which may covary with behavioural traits (such as exploration), that are consistent across time and/or contexts, and morphological traits. Yet, despite the frequent occurrence of sexual dimorphisms in morphology and behaviour, few studies have assessed whether and how sexes differ in metabolic trait covariances.

Methods

We investigated sex-specific relationships among resting or active metabolic rate (RMR and AMR, respectively) with exploratory behaviour, measured independently of metabolic rate in a novel environment, body size and body mass, in Carabus hortensis ground beetles.

Results

RMR, AMR and exploratory behaviour were repeatable among individuals across time, except f

SUBMITTER: Yarwood E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8684319 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature