1
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Yu G, Wong BH, Painting CJ, Li H, Yu L, Zhang Z, Zhang S, Li D. Males armed with big weapons win fights at limited cost in ant-mimicking jumping spiders. Curr Zool 2024; 70:98-108. [PMID: 38476142 PMCID: PMC10926263 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoac101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
A core assumption of sexual selection theory is that sexually selected weapons, specialized morphological structures used directly in male contests, can improve an individual's reproductive success but only if the bearer can overcome associated costs, the negative effects on the bearer's fitness components. However, recent studies have shown that producing and wielding exaggerated weapons may not necessarily be costly. Rather, some traits can be selected for supporting, or compensating for, the expense of producing and wielding such exaggerated weapons. In the ant-mimicking jumping spider Myrmarachne gisti, exaggerated chelicerae are borne only by adult males and not females, showing sexual dimorphism and steep positive allometry with body size. Here, we determine the potential benefits of bearing exaggerated chelicerae during male contests and explore the potential for costs in terms of prey-capture efficiency and compensation between chelicera size and neighboring trait size. While males with longer chelicerae won most of their male-male contests, we found no significant differences in prey-capture efficiency between males and females regardless of whether prey was winged or flightless. Males' elongated chelicerae thus do not impede their efficiency at capturing prey. Furthermore, we found that the sizes of all neighboring traits are positively correlated with chelicera size, suggesting that these traits may be under correlational selection. Taken together, our findings suggest that M. gisti males armed with the exaggerated chelicerae that function as weapons win more fights at limited cost for performance in prey capture and compensate for neighboring structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guocheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Boon Hui Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Christina J Painting
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Hongze Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Long Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Zengtao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Shichang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering and Centre for Behavioral Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Daiqin Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore
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2
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Weber JN, Kojima W, Boisseau RP, Niimi T, Morita S, Shigenobu S, Gotoh H, Araya K, Lin CP, Thomas-Bulle C, Allen CE, Tong W, Lavine LC, Swanson BO, Emlen DJ. Evolution of horn length and lifting strength in the Japanese rhinoceros beetle Trypoxylus dichotomus. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4285-4297.e5. [PMID: 37734374 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
What limits the size of nature's most extreme structures? For weapons like beetle horns, one possibility is a tradeoff associated with mechanical levers: as the output arm of the lever system-the beetle horn-gets longer, it also gets weaker. This "paradox of the weakening combatant" could offset reproductive advantages of additional increases in weapon size. However, in contemporary populations of most heavily weaponed species, males with the longest weapons also tend to be the strongest, presumably because selection drove the evolution of compensatory changes to these lever systems that ameliorated the force reductions of increased weapon size. Therefore, we test for biomechanical limits by reconstructing the stages of weapon evolution, exploring whether initial increases in weapon length first led to reductions in weapon force generation that were later ameliorated through the evolution of mechanisms of mechanical compensation. We describe phylogeographic relationships among populations of a rhinoceros beetle and show that the "pitchfork" shaped head horn likely increased in length independently in the northern and southern radiations of beetles. Both increases in horn length were associated with dramatic reductions to horn lifting strength-compelling evidence for the paradox of the weakening combatant-and these initial reductions to horn strength were later ameliorated in some populations through reductions to horn length or through increases in head height (the input arm for the horn lever system). Our results reveal an exciting geographic mosaic of weapon size, weapon force, and mechanical compensation, shedding light on larger questions pertaining to the evolution of extreme structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse N Weber
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Wataru Kojima
- Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi 753-8511, Japan
| | - Romain P Boisseau
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Teruyuki Niimi
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shinichi Morita
- Division of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- Trans-Scale Biology Center, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Hiroki Gotoh
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Oya, Suruga Ward, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Kunio Araya
- Faculty of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka-city Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Chung-Ping Lin
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, No.88 Sec. 4, Tingzhou Rd, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Camille Thomas-Bulle
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
| | - Cerisse E Allen
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Wenfei Tong
- Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Laura Corley Lavine
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Brook O Swanson
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, 502 East Boone Avenue, Spokane, WA 99258-0102, USA
| | - Douglas J Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
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3
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Abstract
AbstractThe evolution of male-male aggression is of interest because at its extreme it can be very energetically costly, leave males vulnerable to preadtors, and give rise to weaponry such as exaggerated traits. In grasshoppers (Acrididae), one group stands out as exceptionally aggressive, the skyhoppers (Kosciuscola) in which males bite, kick, mandible flare, and wrestle each other for access to females or when females are laying eggs. In this study we asked whether there is variation in aggressive behaviour among four skyhopper species and aimed to determine whether the traits used in fighting bear signatures of sexual selection in their size, variability, and allometric scaling. We found clear differences in the numbers and types of aggressive behaviours among species. Kosciuscola tristis and K. usitatus were the most aggressive, K. cognatus was the least aggressive, and K. tristis was the only species that performed the ‘mandible flare’ behaviour. Mandible size was larger among the three species that showed aggressive behaviour, all except K. cognatus, and was negatively allometric for all species possibly suggesting a functional size constraint. Pronotum size was different among most species and K. tristis’ pronotum was the largest and borderline positively allometric perhaps suggesting that pronotum size is related to aggressive behaviour but the nature of that relationship remains obscured. Our study suggests that further work investigates skyhoppers’ aggressive behaviour and how it varies with ecology, and paves the way for establishing them as a model system in the evolution of aggressive behaviour.
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4
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5
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Dinh JP. Large and exaggerated sexually selected weapons comprise high proportions of metabolically inexpensive exoskeleton. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20210550. [PMID: 35135317 PMCID: PMC8826129 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cost-minimization hypothesis proposes that positive allometry in sexually selected traits can be explained if the proportional energetic maintenance costs of weapons decrease as traits increase in size. Energetic maintenance costs are the costs of maintaining homeostasis. They are slow, persistent energy sinks that are distinct from ephemeral costs of growth. Because some tissues expend more energy on maintenance than others, energetic maintenance costs can be inferred from proportional tissue composition. For example, soft tissues require more energy for maintenance than exoskeleton, so an arthropod claw that is 50% soft tissue and 50% exoskeleton would have higher energetic maintenance costs than one that is 30% soft tissue and 70% exoskeleton. I tested the cost-minimization hypothesis using proportional tissue composition as a proxy for energetic maintenance costs in snapping shrimp (Alpheus heterochaelis and Alpheus estuariensis) and fiddler crabs (Uca pugilator). As predicted, larger weapons comprised proportionally less soft tissue mass and more exoskeleton mass than smaller weapons. Furthermore, I extended cost-minimization to explain trait exaggeration: individuals might exaggerate traits by investing more mass in exoskeleton. As predicted, exoskeleton mass proportional to weapon mass increased as exaggeration increased. These results support and extend the cost-minimization hypothesis to explain positive allometry and weapon exaggeration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P. Dinh
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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6
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Somjee U, Powell EC, Hickey AJ, Harrison JF, Painting CJ. Exaggerated sexually selected weapons maintained with disproportionately low metabolic costs in a single species with extreme size variation. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ummat Somjee
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Balboa Panama
| | - Erin C. Powell
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Anthony J. Hickey
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | | | - Christina J. Painting
- School of Biological Sciences University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science University of Waikato Auckland New Zealand
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7
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Painting CJ. Size and shape variation in the male dimorphic head weapons of an anthribid weevil (Hoherius meinertzhageni). Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10127-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Fisher DN, LeGrice RJ, Painting CJ. Social selection is density dependent but makes little contribution to total selection in New Zealand giraffe weevils. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210696. [PMID: 34074126 PMCID: PMC8170205 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Social selection occurs when traits of interaction partners influence an individual's fitness and can alter total selection strength. However, we have little idea of what factors influence social selection's strength. Further, social selection only contributes to overall selection when there is phenotypic assortment, but simultaneous estimates of social selection and phenotypic assortment are rare. Here, we estimated social selection on body size in a wild population of New Zealand giraffe weevils (Lasiorhynchus barbicornis). We measured phenotypic assortment by body size and tested whether social selection varied with sex ratio, density and interacted with the body size of the focal individual. Social selection was limited and unaffected by sex ratio or the size of the focal individual. However, at high densities social selection was negative for both sexes, consistent with size-based competitive interactions for access to mates. Phenotypic assortment was always close to zero, indicating negative social selection at high densities will not impede the evolution of larger body sizes. Despite its predicted importance, social selection may only influence evolutionary change in specific contexts, leaving direct selection to drive evolutionary change.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Fisher
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB243FX, UK
| | - Rebecca J. LeGrice
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Christina J. Painting
- Te Aka Mātuatua School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
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9
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McCambridge JE, Painting CJ, Walker LA, Holwell GI. Contests between male New Zealand sheet-web spiders, Cambridgea plagiata (Araneae: Desidae). NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2021.1909081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine E. McCambridge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- AsureQuality Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christina J. Painting
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Leilani A. Walker
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I. Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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10
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Del Sol JF, Hongo Y, Boisseau RP, Berman GH, Allen CE, Emlen DJ. Population differences in the strength of sexual selection match relative weapon size in the Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)†. Evolution 2020; 75:394-413. [PMID: 33009663 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Exaggerated weapons of sexual selection often diverge more rapidly and dramatically than other body parts, suggesting that relevant agents of selection may be discernible in contemporary populations. We examined the ecology, reproductive behavior, and strength of sexual selection on horn length in five recently diverged rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) populations that differ in relative horn size. Males with longer horns were better at winning fights in all locations, but the link between winning fights and mating success differed such that selection favored large males with long horns at the two long-horned populations, but was relaxed or nonexistent at the populations with relatively shorter horns. Observations of local habitat conditions and breeding ecology point to shifts in the relative abundance of feeding territories as the most likely cause of population differences in selection on male weapon size in this species. Comparisons of ecological conditions and selection strength across populations offer critical first steps toward meaningfully linking mating system dynamics, selection patterns, and diversity in sexually selected traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian F Del Sol
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Yoshihito Hongo
- Department of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, 603-8577, Japan
| | - Romain P Boisseau
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Gabriella H Berman
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Cerisse E Allen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
| | - Douglas J Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812
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11
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Fea MP, Boisseau RP, Emlen DJ, Holwell GI. Cybernetic combatants support the importance of duels in the evolution of extreme weapons. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20200254. [PMID: 32517625 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A current evolutionary hypothesis predicts that the most extreme forms of animal weaponry arise in systems where combatants fight each other one-to-one, in duels. It has also been suggested that arms races in human interstate conflicts are more likely to escalate in cases where there are only two opponents. However, directly testing whether duels matter for weapon investment is difficult in animals and impossible in interstate conflicts. Here, we test whether superior combatants experience a disproportionate advantage in duels, as compared with multi-combatant skirmishes, in a system analogous to both animal and military contests: the battles fought by artificial intelligence agents in a computer war game. We found that combatants with experimentally improved fighting power had a large advantage in duels, but that this advantage deteriorated as the complexity of the battlefield was increased by the addition of further combatants. This pattern remained under the two different forms of the advantage granted to our focal artificial intelligence (AI) combatants, and became reversed when we switched the roles to feature a weak focal AI among strong opponents. Our results suggest that one-on-one combat may trigger arms races in diverse systems. These results corroborate the outcomes of studies of both animal and interstate contests, and suggest that elements of animal contest theory may be widely applicable to arms races generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray P Fea
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Romain P Boisseau
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Douglas J Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Gregory I Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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12
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Wiens JJ, Tuschhoff E. Songs versus colours versus horns: what explains the diversity of sexually selected traits? Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:847-864. [PMID: 32092241 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Papers on sexual selection often highlight the incredible diversity of sexually selected traits across animals. Yet, few studies have tried to explain why this diversity evolved. Animals use many different types of traits to attract mates and outcompete rivals, including colours, songs, and horns, but it remains unclear why, for example, some taxa have songs, others have colours, and others horns. Here, we first conduct a systematic survey of the basic diversity and distribution of different types of sexually selected signals and weapons across the animal Tree of Life. Based on this survey, we describe seven major patterns in trait diversity and distributions. We then discuss 10 unanswered questions raised by these patterns, and how they might be addressed. One major pattern is that most types of sexually selected signals and weapons are apparently absent from most animal phyla (88%), in contrast to the conventional wisdom that a diversity of sexually selected traits is present across animals. Furthermore, most trait diversity is clustered in Arthropoda and Chordata, but only within certain clades. Within these clades, many different types of traits have evolved, and many types appear to have evolved repeatedly. By contrast, other major arthropod and chordate clades appear to lack all or most trait types, and similar patterns are repeated at smaller phylogenetic scales (e.g. within insects). Although most research on sexual selection focuses on female choice, we find similar numbers of traits (among sampled species) are involved in male contests (44%) and female choice (55%). Overall, these patterns are largely unexplained and unexplored, as are many other fundamental questions about the evolution of these traits. We suggest that understanding the diversity of sexually selected traits may require a shift towards macroevolutionary studies at relatively deep timescales (e.g. tens to hundreds of millions of years ago).
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Wiens
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A
| | - E Tuschhoff
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721-0088, U.S.A
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13
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O'Brien DM, Boisseau RP, Duell M, McCullough E, Powell EC, Somjee U, Solie S, Hickey AJ, Holwell GI, Painting CJ, Emlen DJ. Muscle mass drives cost in sexually selected arthropod weapons. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191063. [PMID: 31238851 PMCID: PMC6599981 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexually selected weapons often function as honest signals of fighting ability. If poor-quality individuals produce high-quality weapons, then receivers should focus on other, more reliable signals. Cost is one way to maintain signal integrity. The costs of weapons tend to increase with relative weapon size, and thereby restrict large weapons to high-quality individuals who can produce and maintain them. Weapon cost, however, appears to be unpredictably variable both within and across taxa, and the mechanisms underlying this variation remain unclear. We suggest variation in weapon cost may result from variation in weapon composition-specifically, differences in the amount of muscle mass directly associated with the weapon. We test this idea by measuring the metabolic cost of sexually selected weapons in seven arthropod species and relating these measures to weapon muscle mass. We show that individuals with relatively large weapon muscles have disproportionately high resting metabolic rates and provide evidence that this trend is driven by weapon muscle mass. Overall, our results suggest that variation in weapon cost can be partially explained by variation in weapon morphology and that the integrity of weapon signals may be maintained by increased metabolic cost in species with relatively high weapon muscle mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin M. O'Brien
- Department of Biological Sciences, Colby College, Waterville, ME, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Romain P. Boisseau
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Meghan Duell
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Erin McCullough
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Erin C. Powell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ummat Somjee
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancón, Panamá
| | - Sarah Solie
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
- Biology Department, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anthony J. Hickey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I. Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Douglas J. Emlen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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14
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Pinto NS, Palaoro AV, Peixoto PEC. All by myself? Meta‐analysis of animal contests shows stronger support for self than for mutual assessment models. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1430-1442. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nelson S. Pinto
- Graduate Program in EcologyUniversidade Federal da Bahia Salvador BA 40110‐909 Brazil
| | - Alexandre V. Palaoro
- LAGE do Departamento de EcologiaUniversidade de São Paulo São Paulo SP 05508‐090 Brazil
| | - Paulo E. C. Peixoto
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia GeralUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte MG 31270‐901 Brazil
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15
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LeGrice RJ, Tezanos‐Pinto G, de Villemereuil P, Holwell GI, Painting CJ. Directional selection on body size but no apparent survival cost to being large in wild New Zealand giraffe weevils. Evolution 2019; 73:762-776. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gabriela Tezanos‐Pinto
- Coastal‐Marine Research Group, INMS
- Professional and Continuing EducationMassey University Auckland 0745 New Zealand
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16
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Rink AN, Altwegg R, Edwards S, Bowie RCK, Colville JF. Contest dynamics and assessment strategies in combatant monkey beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini). Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ariella N Rink
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
- Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Res Altwegg
- Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- African Climate and Development Initiative, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shelley Edwards
- Evolutionary Biology and Molecular Biology, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Rauri C K Bowie
- NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Harmon Way, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan F Colville
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa
- Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa
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17
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Rico-Guevara A, Hurme KJ. Intrasexually selected weapons. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:60-101. [PMID: 29924496 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
We propose a practical concept that distinguishes the particular kind of weaponry that has evolved to be used in combat between individuals of the same species and sex, which we term intrasexually selected weapons (ISWs). We present a treatise of ISWs in nature, aiming to understand their distinction and evolution from other secondary sex traits, including from 'sexually selected weapons', and from sexually dimorphic and monomorphic weaponry. We focus on the subset of secondary sex traits that are the result of same-sex combat, defined here as ISWs, provide not previously reported evolutionary patterns, and offer hypotheses to answer questions such as: why have only some species evolved weapons to fight for the opposite sex or breeding resources? We examined traits that seem to have evolved as ISWs in the entire animal phylogeny, restricting the classification of ISW to traits that are only present or enlarged in adults of one of the sexes, and are used as weapons during intrasexual fights. Because of the absence of behavioural data and, in many cases, lack of sexually discriminated series from juveniles to adults, we exclude the fossil record from this review. We merge morphological, ontogenetic, and behavioural information, and for the first time thoroughly review the tree of life to identify separate evolution of ISWs. We found that ISWs are only found in bilateral animals, appearing independently in nematodes, various groups of arthropods, and vertebrates. Our review sets a reference point to explore other taxa that we identify with potential ISWs for which behavioural or morphological studies are warranted. We establish that most ISWs come in pairs, are located in or near the head, are endo- or exoskeletal modifications, are overdeveloped structures compared with those found in females, are modified feeding structures and/or locomotor appendages, are most common in terrestrial taxa, are frequently used to guard females, territories, or both, and are also used in signalling displays to deter rivals and/or attract females. We also found that most taxa lack ISWs, that females of only a few species possess better-developed weapons than males, that the cases of independent evolution of ISWs are not evenly distributed across the phylogeny, and that animals possessing the most developed ISWs have non-hunting habits (e.g. herbivores) or are faunivores that prey on very small prey relative to their body size (e.g. insectivores). Bringing together perspectives from studies on a variety of taxa, we conceptualize that there are five ways in which a sexually dimorphic trait, apart from the primary sex traits, can be fixed: sexual selection, fecundity selection, parental role division, differential niche occupation between the sexes, and interference competition. We discuss these trends and the factors involved in the evolution of intrasexually selected weaponry in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Rico-Guevara
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269, U.S.A.,Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Código Postal 11001, Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Kristiina J Hurme
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, U.S.A.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, 75 N. Eagleville Rd, Unit 3043, Storrs, CT, 06269, U.S.A
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McCambridge JE, Painting CJ, Walker LA, Holwell GI. Weapon allometry and phenotypic correlation in the New Zealand sheetweb spiderCambridgea plagiata. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Leilani A Walker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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19
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Obligate, but not facultative, satellite males prefer the same male sexual signal characteristics as females. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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20
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Fea M, Holwell G. Combat in a cave-dwelling wētā (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) with exaggerated weaponry. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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21
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Avila GA, Withers TM, Holwell GI. Courtship and mating behaviour in the parasitoid wasp Cotesia urabae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): mate location and the influence of competition and body size on male mating success. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2017; 107:439-447. [PMID: 27974053 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485316001127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Cotesia urabae is a solitary larval endoparasitoid that was introduced into New Zealand in 2011 as a classical biological control agent against Uraba lugens. A detailed knowledge of its reproductive biology is required to optimize mass rearing efficiency. In this study, the courtship and mating behaviour of C. urabae is described and investigated from a series of experiments, conducted to understand the factors that influence male mating success. Cotesia urabae males exhibited a high attraction to virgin females but not mated females, whereas females showed no attraction to either virgin or mated males. Male mating success was highest in the presence of a male competitor. Also, the time to mate was shorter and copulation duration was longer when a male competitor was present. Larger male C. urabae had greater mating success than smaller males when paired together with a single female. This knowledge can now be utilized to improve mass rearing methods of C. urabae for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- G A Avila
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited,Mt Albert,Private Bag 92169,Auckland 1142,New Zealand
| | | | - G I Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences,The University of Auckland,Private Bag 92019,Auckland 1142,New Zealand
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22
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Ferreira CPS, Cerqueira LP, Uezu A, Oliveira EJF, Peixoto PEC. Territory Availability at Different Spatial Scales does not Affect Fighting Investment in Males of the Lycaenid Butterfly Strymon mulucha. Ethology 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cibele P. S. Ferreira
- Programa de pós-graduação em Zoologia; Sala 06, 1° andar - Prédio LABIO; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Feira de Santana BA Brazil
- Laboratório de Entomologia; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Novo Horizonte Feira de Santana BA Brazil
| | - Luana P. Cerqueira
- Programa de pós-graduação em Zoologia; Sala 06, 1° andar - Prédio LABIO; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Feira de Santana BA Brazil
- Laboratório de Entomologia; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Novo Horizonte Feira de Santana BA Brazil
| | - Alexandre Uezu
- Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas; Nazaré Paulista SP Brazil
| | - Eddy J. F. Oliveira
- Laboratório de Entomologia; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Novo Horizonte Feira de Santana BA Brazil
| | - Paulo E. C. Peixoto
- Laboratório de Entomologia; Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana; Novo Horizonte Feira de Santana BA Brazil
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24
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Myers SS, Buckley TR, Holwell GI. Mate detection and seasonal variation in stick insect mating behaviour (Phamatodea: Clitarchus hookeri). BEHAVIOUR 2015. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
For animals that exhibit a scramble competition mating system, sexual selection pressures on mate searching ability are expected to be strong. Scramble competition mating systems evolve when populations provide females with equal accessibility to all male competitors, yet sex ratio and population density influences mating systems and varies seasonally. The stick insect species,Clitarchus hookeri, is frequently found in copula, yet very little is known about it’s mating behaviour. We preformed behavioural tests and assayed antennal sensory morphology to determine whether males used chemosensory cues to detect females. Through natural field observations we found populations to be significantly male-biased earlier in the season, while later, populations began to display equal sex ratios. With increasing female availability mating pair proportions steadily increased, while copulation duration declined. These results supportC. hookerias a scramble competitor, and demonstrate males may alter their behaviour in response to the seasonal variation in female density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley S. Myers
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
- Allan Wilson Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thomas R. Buckley
- Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
- Allan Wilson Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gregory I. Holwell
- The School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
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Painting CJ, Buckley TR, Holwell GI. Weapon allometry varies with latitude in the New Zealand giraffe weevil. J Evol Biol 2014; 27:2864-70. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Painting
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Auckland; Auckland New Zealand
| | - T. R. Buckley
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Auckland; Auckland New Zealand
- Landcare Research; Auckland New Zealand
- Allan Wilson Centre; Auckland New Zealand
| | - G. I. Holwell
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Auckland; Auckland New Zealand
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26
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Painting CJ, Holwell GI. Flexible alternative mating tactics by New Zealand giraffe weevils. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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