条纹短攀鲈的雄性个体大小、雌性偏好以及雄性之间的竞争

本研究考察了条纹短攀鲈(Trichopsis vittata)雄性个体的身体大小对雌性个体性偏好的影响以及对雄性之间竞争的影响。本研究设立了两种处理来研究雌性个体的性偏好以及雄性之间的竞争。在一种处理中,放入同样大小的雄性个体,而在另一种处理中,放入大小不同的雄性个体。结果表明,雄性个体的大小不影响雌性条纹短攀鲈的性偏好。在对雄性之间竞争的研究中,发现个体较大的个体获胜的次数比较多。在个体大小相同的处理中,雄性之间打斗的持续时间比另一种处理中的打斗持续时间长。对这两种处理中不同对抗行为的比较表明,个体大小相同处理组中的发声、咬、以及总体对抗行为发生得更为频繁。对个体大小不同处理组中的大、小个体的进一步观察也揭示出体型大的个体比体型小的个体有更多的追逐行为和更少的逃脱行为。这些结果表明,在雄性个体比雌性个体大的物种中,体型的性两型可能与雄性之间的竞争有关,而不是与雌性偏好有关。     

大山雀身体大小的性二态及其季节变化

动物中普遍存在雌雄个体身体大小的性二态现象。了解近缘种之间身体大小性二态现象的差异，可为深入探讨身体大小性二态现象的潜在驱动机制提供证据。国外对欧亚大山雀（Parus major）的研究发现，其喙长、跗跖长、翅长等 6 项身体大小指标存在着明显的性二态，且喙长的性二态存在季节间差异。大山雀（P. cinereus）曾被作为欧亚大山雀的一个亚种，其形态和行为与欧亚大山雀存在着诸多相似之处。为探讨大山雀是否也存在身体大小性二态及季节性差异，本研究分析了 2018 至 2020 年间在河南董寨国家级自然保护区捕捉的 226 只（雌性 96 只和雄性 130 只）大山雀的喙长、头喙长、跗跖长、翅长、尾长和体长这 6 项体征指标的两性差异及其季节变化。结果显示，大山雀上述 6 项身体大小指标均存在不同程度的性二态现象，且雄性个体仅喙长与雌性的差异不显著，其余 5 项指标均显著大于雌性。此外，身体大小指标的两性差异不随季节显著变化，但两性的跗跖长在秋季均显著短于冬季和繁殖季，尾长在繁殖季均显著长于秋季和冬季。上述结果表明，大山雀身体大小的性二态及其季节性差异与欧亚大山雀并不完全相似。无论其身体大小存在性二态和季节变化的原因，还是其与欧亚大山雀在身体大小性二态模式上的差别，都有待今后进一步的研究。     

利用腊叶标本初探豹子花属植物的性表达及其与个体大小的关系

植物性系统进化过程中很少有植物通过雌性败育的方式实现性系统由联合走向分离,然而雄花在百合科植物中大量存在,引起了研究者的关注。本研究利用百合科豹子花属植物的腊叶标本,获取它们的花性别表型、花大小、株高以及分布海拔等信息探讨豹子花属植物的性表达样式,并对样本量较多的开瓣豹子花、云南豹子花、多斑豹子花和豹子花四个种的性表达及其与个体大小的关系进行分析。研究结果表明:1)六种豹子花属植物标本中都有雄花存在;根据雄性花和两性花的不同组合,形成雄性个体、两性花个体,和雄花两性花同株个体三种植株类型;2)个体大小(株高)和分布海拔之间不存在相关关系,和植株性别类型相关,即雄性个体一般显著小于具有雌性功能的两性花个体和雄花两性花同株个体;3)个体大小与花大小、每个个体开花总数和雌花数量成显著的正相关关系,而与每个个体的雄花数量无显著的相关关系。本研究更正了一直以来对豹子花属植物性系统的错误认识,首次报道雄花在豹子花属植物中普遍存在,并指出雄花和雄性个体的出现是大小依赖性分配的结果。同时,以研究实例证明了利用腊叶标本开展植物性系统多样性的可行性。     

利用腊叶标本初探豹子花属植物的性表达及其与个体大小的关系?

植物性系统进化过程中很少有植物通过雌性败育的方式实现性系统由联合走向分离,然而雄花在百合科植物中大量存在,引起了研究者的关注。本研究利用百合科豹子花属植物的腊叶标本,获取它们的花性别表型、花大小、株高以及分布海拔等信息探讨豹子花属植物的性表达样式,并对样本量较多的开瓣豹子花、云南豹子花、多斑豹子花和豹子花四个种的性表达及其与个体大小的关系进行分析。研究结果表明：1)六种豹子花属植物标本中都有雄花存在;根据雄性花和两性花的不同组合,形成雄性个体、两性花个体,和雄花两性花同株个体三种植株类型;2)个体大小(株高)和分布海拔之间不存在相关关系,和植株性别类型相关,即雄性个体一般显著小于具有雌性功能的两性花个体和雄花两性花同株个体;3)个体大小与花大小、每个个体开花总数和雌花数量成显著的正相关关系,而与每个个体的雄花数量无显著的相关关系。本研究更正了一直以来对豹子花属植物性系统的错误认识,首次报道雄花在豹子花属植物中普遍存在,并指出雄花和雄性个体的出现是大小依赖性分配的结果。同时,以研究实例证明了利用腊叶标本开展植物性系统多样性的可行性。     

近亲幽灵蛛用于兼性群居生活的时间消耗

所谓近亲幽灵蛛（Pholcus affinis）的兼性群居生活,是指他们可以单独生活,也可以几个个体共栖于一张网上成为一组。本文使用焦点动物追踪法,研究不同大小的组（指组内个体数量多少）、不同年龄阶段的蜘蛛在组内生活中用于“消耗性”行为（移动、织网、弹跳、拨丝或种内相互作用）的时间耗费。主要结论包括：蜘蛛的年龄和组的大小影响组内成员的付出。在不同大小的组里,2～3龄幼蛛（S型）、亚成体或成体（L型）用在“消耗性”行为上所用的时间百分率没有显著性差异,但4～5龄幼蛛（M型）随着组内成员的增多而要花费更多的时间。当组内个体数量超过3个,L型和M型蜘蛛之间有着更多的相互作用,而S型蜘蛛不论组内个体多少,其个体之间相互作用都很少。研究结果同时显示,近亲幽灵蛛在不同发育阶段有不同的群居生活策略。     

昆虫性选择行为研究进展

本文综述了昆虫的各种性选择行为,包括与个体大小有关的性选择行为、与鸣声有关的性选择行为、与“婚礼食物”有关的性选择行为以及精子竞争等。     

亚洲玉米螟性体型二型性及幼虫发育历期与蛹重的关系

【目的】探明亚洲玉米螟不同地理种群性体型二型性及幼虫发育历期与蛹重的关系。【方法】在26℃,L︰D=16︰8条件下,详细记录了来自热带地区的海南省三亚种群,来自亚热带地区的广东省广州和江西省永修种群,及来自温带地区的河北廊坊种群的雌雄幼虫发育历期、蛹重、成虫重,并计算幼虫发育速率。【结果】不同地理种群的雌性个体均显著大于雄性个体。三亚种群雌雄个体的发育历期没有差异,但雌性的生长速率显著大于雄性个体;广州种群、永修种群及廊坊种群,雌雄的生长速率没有差异,但雌性幼虫的发育历期显著长于雄性幼虫。各地理种群蛹重随幼虫发育历期的延长呈下降趋势。【结论】亚洲玉米螟存在明显的性体型二型性,雌雄个体发育历期和生长速率存在地理差异。     

蜘蛛的性二型现象及其进化

对蜘蛛的性二型现象进行了初步的概括,并试图以食物对种群繁衍的影响为线索说明其进化机制。蜘蛛的性二型现象主要表现在体形大小上,一般雌性大于雄性;食物的数量和分布制约着蜘蛛性二型现象的进化。     

昆虫体型及性体型二型性的地理变异

体型是昆虫基本的形态特性,它会影响到昆虫几乎所有的生理和生活史特性。同种昆虫不同地理种群在体型上常表现出明显的渐变,导致这些渐变的环境因素包括温度、湿度、光照、寄主植物、种群密度等,并且多种环境因素也会对昆虫种群内个体体型产生影响。雌雄个体的体型存在差异,称性体型二型性。性体型二型性也显示了地理差异。这些差异形成的途径已经得到详细的分析,其形成机制导致多个假说的提出,这些假说又在多种昆虫中得到验证。本文从同一种昆虫不同种群间、同一种群内、雌雄虫个体间3个水平,对种内昆虫体型变异的方式,影响昆虫种群间体型变异和种群内昆虫体型的变异的环境因素,以及昆虫性体型二型性及其地理变异的现象等方面的研究进行了综述,并对未来的相关研究提供了建议。     

Development of intraspecific size variation in black coucals,white-browed coucals and ruffs from hatching to fledging

Most studies on sexual size dimorphism address proximate and functional questions related to adults, but sexual size dimorphism usually develops during ontogeny and developmental trajectories of sexual size dimorphism are poorly understood. We studied three bird species with variation in adult sexual size dimorphism: black coucals (females 69% heavier than males), white-browed coucals (females 13% heavier than males) and ruffs (males 70% heavier than females). Using a flexible Bayesian generalized additive model framework (GAMM), we examined when and how sexual size dimorphism developed in body mass, tarsus length and bill length from hatching until fledging. In ruffs, we additionally examined the development of intrasexual size variation among three morphs (Independents, Satellites and Faeders), which creates another level of variation in adult size of males and females. We found that 27–100% of the adult inter- and intrasexual size variation developed until fledging although none of the species completed growth during the observational period. In general, the larger sex/morph grew more quickly and reached its maximal absolute growth rate later than the smaller sex/morph. However, when the daily increase in body mass was modelled as a proportion, growth patterns were synchronized between and within sexes. Growth broadly followed sigmoidal asymptotic models, however only with the flexible GAMM approach, residual distributions were homogeneous over the entire observation periods. These results provide a platform for future studies to relate variation in growth to selective pressures and proximate mechanisms in these three species, and they highlight the advantage of using a flexible model approach for examining growth variation during ontogeny.     

Brief communication: Morphometric data for adult lion-tailed macaques (Macaca silenus)

Basic morphometric data were collected from 22 adult lion-tailed macaques (M. silenus) of both sexes. M. silenus is a rare primate species from which adequate morphometric data have not heretofore been available for comparative purposes. Data collected include measures of gross body size (weight; crown-rump and rump-heel length), and for males, measures of secondary sexual characteristics (canine tooth and testes size). Degree of sexual dimorphism was marked, with males significantly larger and heavier than females. The three body size measures were correlated for males but not for females. There was substantial variation among individual males in secondary sex characteristics measurements. The data indicate than lion-tailed macaque morphometrics are consonant with the general pattern of positive allometry for body size and sexual dimorphism characteristic of the primate order.     

蓝尾石龙子的头部两性异形和食性

通过测量头、体大小和胃检研究浙江泰顺产蓝尾石龙子 (Eumeceselegans)个体发育过程中两性异形和食性的变化。蓝尾石龙子成体个体大小和头部大小的两性差异显著 ,雄性大于雌性。不同发育阶段雌性头长与SVL的线性回归斜率无显著差异 ,头宽与SVL线性回归斜率的差异显著 ,成体和SVL <5 0mm幼体头宽随SVL的增长速率显著小于SVL为 5 0 - 6 9mm的幼体。雄性头部相对于SVL呈加速式异速生长。两性比较发现 :雌雄幼体头长和头宽随SVL的增长速率无显著差异 ,SVL <5 0mm幼体特定SVL的头长和头宽无显著的两性差异 ,但SVL为 5 0 - 6 9mm的雄性幼体头长和头宽大于SVL相同的雌性幼体 ;雄性成体头长和头宽随SVL的增长速率显著大于雌性。SVL <5 0mm的雌性幼体头部相对小于SVL为 5 0 - 6 9mm的同性幼体 ,性成熟雌体头部相对小于SVL为 5 0 - 6 9mm的同性幼体。雌性幼体、雄性幼体、雌性成体和雄性成体食物生态位宽度分别为 12 3、 12 5、 4 8和 14 4。雌雄幼体食物生态位重叠度最高 ,雌雄成体食物生态位重叠度次之 ,成体与幼体食物生态位重叠度较小。成体摄入食饵的大小 (用胃内完整食物长度的平均值表示 )和变化范围大于幼体。两性成、幼体摄入的食饵大小差异显著。两性个体摄入的食饵大小均与其SVL呈正相关 ,表明较大     

Quantitative analysis of sexual dimorphism and sex ratio in Hyphydrus ovatus (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae)

Sexual dimorphism in size, shape, and mass relative to length, and sex ratios are quantified for populations of Hyphydrus ovatus. a dytiscid beetle Males of H ovatus are not only longer than females, but also significantly larger in elytron length, thorax width, head width, leg length, total width, total depth, and abdominal segment length Two local populations differ slightly but significantly in total depth and abdominal segment length, but sexual dimorphism in size is similar for the two populations Hyphydrus ovatus are also sexually dimorphic in shape, with males having relatively broader heads and thoraxes than females The two populations differed slightly but significantly in relative abdominal segment length, but as with size, sexual dimorphism in shape is similar for the two populations Males are relatively heavier than females, although the slope of the log mass vs log length relationship is the same for the two sexes Sex ratios in field samples vary significantly over the summer, with percent females declining from c 50% to c 15% Sex ratios are significantly below 50% females m two of five monthly samples and in the total pooled set of samples Sexual dimorphism in size, shape, and relative mass, combined with male-biased sex ratios suggest that larger size of male H ovatus is a product of sexual selection     

Pairing and insemination patterns in a giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa: Orthoptera; Anostostomatidae)

Positive size assortative mating can arise if either one or both sexes prefer bigger mates or if the success of larger males in contests for larger females leaves smaller males to mate with smaller females. Moreover, body size could not only influence pairing patterns before copulation but also the covariance between female size and size of ejaculate (number of spermatophores) transferred to a mate. In this field study, we examine the pre-copulatory mate choice, as well as insemination, patterns in the Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa). D. rugosa is a large orthopteran insect that exhibits strong female-biased sexual dimorphism, with females being nearly twice as heavy as males. Contrary to the general expectation of male preference for large females in insects with female-biased size dimorphism, we found only weak support for positive size assortative mating based on size (tibia length). Interestingly, although there was no correlation between male body size and the number of spermatophores transferred, we did find that males pass more spermatophores to lighter females. This pattern of sperm transfer does not appear to be a consequence of those males that mate heavier females being sperm depleted. Instead, males may provide lighter females with more spermatophores perhaps because these females pose less of a sperm competition risk to mates.     

Sexual Dimorphism in the Hindlimb Muscles of the Asiatic Toad(Bufo gargarizans)in Relation to Male Reproductive Success

In many anurans, the forelimb muscles of males are used to grasp females and are often heavier than those of females despite the larger female body size. Such sexual dimorphism in forelimb musculature is thought to result from sexual selection. In addition, the hindlimbs of frogs and toads play an important role in the reproductive process as amplectant males can expel rivals with robust hindlimbs through kicking. In this study, the sexual dimorphism in dry mass for six hindlimb muscles of the Asiatic toad(Bufo gargarizans) was investigated. The results showed that, when controlled for body size, the hindlimb muscle mass of males significantly exceeded that of females for every muscle. The hindlimb muscle mass of amplectant males was also significantly larger than that of non-amplectant males. These results suggested that if strong hindlimb muscles could improve mating success of males, sexual selection would promote the evolution of dimorphism in this character.     

Multivariate morphometries and sexual dimorphism in the orb-web spider Metellina segmentata (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae, Metidae)

Sexual dimorphism in body size and leg length was investigated in a common orb-weaving spider of Ireland and northern Europe, Metellina segmentata (Clerck, 1757) (Araneae, Metidae). Univariate and multivariate analyses of sexual dimorphism revealed that a greater proportion of between sex variation (sexual dimorphism) was attributable to variation in shape than in size. Significant differences were found in the scores for males and females for the first two principal components. PCI (shape) accounted for 44.25% of the variation and PC2 (size) 13.01% of the variation. Although M. segmentata has been attributed with minimal sexual size dimorphism, females were markedly heavier, possibly a reflection of differential reproductive investment between the sexes, but males had markedly longer legs and broader prosoma. The results are discussed with regard to existing theories of natural and sexual selection, particularly those concerning sexual cannibalism and differential life history traits in males and females. Models that attempt to explain the evolution of sexual size dimorphism in spiders and of the web builders in particular, fail to account for the multivariate nature of dimorphism, especially with respect to shape.     

灰椋鸟身体大小和内脏器官形态的两性差异

鸟类性二态现象广泛存在,比如身体大小、羽色等,性二态很可能是自然选择和性选择共同作用的结果.为了探索和更好地了解雀形目鸟类身体大小性二态的进化,在2019年繁殖季节早期研究了灰椋鸟(Sturnus cineraceus)野外种群身体大小和内脏器官形态的两性差异.结果表明,除嘴宽外,其他身体特征参数均雄性显著大于雌性,表...     

Sexual Dimorphism in Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera,Phyllostomidae): Can Pregnancy and Pup Carrying Be Responsible for Differences in Wing Shape?

Competition is one of the most cited mechanisms to explain secondary sexual dimorphism in animals. Nonetheless, it has been proposed that sexual dimorphism in bat wings is also a result of adaptive pressures to compensate additional weight caused by fetus or pup carrying during the reproductive period of females. The main objective of this study is to verify the existence of sexual dimorphism in Sturnira lilium wings. We employed geometric morphometrics techniques using anatomical landmarks superimposition to obtain size (Centroid Size) and shape variables of wings, which were reduced by Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). We also employed classical morphometrics using wing length measurements to compare efficiency between these two morphometric approaches and make comparisons using wing area measurements. LDA indicated significant differences between wing shapes of males and females, with 91% (stepwise classification) and 80% (leave-one-out cross validation) of correct classification. However, the size variable obtained did not contribute to such classifications. We have observed larger areas in female wings, but we found no differences in wing length measurements and no allometric effects in wing length, shape and area measurements. Interestingly, our study has provided evidences of morphological differences where classical morphometrics have failed. LDA and area measurements analyses revealed that females have a different area distribution in distinct portions of the wing, with wider dactylopatagia and plagiopatagia, and wingtips more triangular than males. No differences in body length or relative wing length were observed between the sexes, but pregnant females have more body weight than non-pregnant females and males. Our findings suggest that sexual dimorphism in the wing shape of S. lilium is probably related to the increase in flight efficiency of females during reproductive period. It decreases wing loading in specific portions of the wing and reduces energy cost to maintain a faster and maneuverable flight.     

Geography of sexual dimorphism in the tooth size of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (Mammalia, Carnivora)

Geographic variation in sexual dimorphism of tooth size was assessed for the red fox Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) across the whole northern range of the species. Twenty-one measurements of tooth size and skull length were taken from 2849 specimens (1577 males and 1272 females) originating from 12 Nearctic and 25 Palearctic localities. The index of sexual dimorphism was calculated as a quotient of the mean measure of certain characters in males by the respective mean in females ( M _m/ M _f). In the whole range, the males were larger than females and mean dimorphism index of tooth size ranged from 1.01 to 1.06. On average, the tooth measurements in males were 3.6% larger than in females. The highest dimorphism was observed in the canines. Dimorphism of tooth size was higher in the Palearctic than Nearctic. Statistically significant differences between regions were found for lengths of C¹, C₁ and M₁. In the Palearctic, higher values of the dimorphism indices were observed particularly in the southern parts of the Eurasian range of the red fox and in Great Britain. For a few metrical traits, sexual dimorphism indices presented significant relations to some geo-climatic variables. The geographic pattern of size dimorphism in the red fox seems to be shaped by sexual selection, intraspecific and interspecific competition and population density.