Ecological dimorphisms: An introduction to the symposium

A growing body of literature is devoted to understanding differencesbetween males and females in numerous behavioral, morphological,and physiological variables that do not appear to play a rolein sexual or fecundity selection. Despite the increasing attentionpaid to such ecological dimorphisms, there has thus far beenno attempt to consolidate or review studies in this area. Thissymposium comprises a series of papers that examine ecologicaldimorphisms from several diverse perspectives, spanning a rangeof ecological fields from functional morphology to behaviorand evolution of life-history. These studies show that genderexerts considerable effects on individual ecology, even outsideof the context of reproduction.