Sexually Dimorphic Eye-Loss Driven by Ecological Selection in an Ostracod Crustacean: Support for the Reproductive Role Hypothesis
| Autor: | Tiffanie Tran, Ajna S. Rivera, Kristina H Koyama, Astrid M Marin Gomez, Alexis L Arenz |
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| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
0301 basic medicine
Male Ecological selection Zoology Plant Science Eye Predation 03 medical and health sciences Ostracod Crustacea Animals Selection Genetic Ocular Physiological Phenomena Ecological niche Sex Characteristics biology Reproduction biology.organism_classification Crustacean Biological Evolution Sexual dimorphism 030104 developmental biology Sexual selection Animal Science and Zoology Female Food competition |
| Zdroj: | Integrative and comparative biology. 58(3) |
| ISSN: | 1557-7023 |
| Popis: | Euphilomedes carcharodonta ostracods exhibit sex-specific eye-loss, with females lacking image-forming compound eyes compared with males and related species. The standard assumption is that sexual dimorphism is driven by sexual selection. However, previous work in E. carcharodonta suggests that male eyes are used to evade predators in the male-specific ecological niche, and that male-eyes lack the resolution to search for females. In this study, we examine whether sexual selection or ecological selection drives the retention of male eyes. Ecological niche differentiation was hypothesized by Darwin (1871) to be an alternative selective force for sexual dimorphism either through food competition or through dimorphic sex-role behavior, the reproductive role hypothesis. As of yet, there is little experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis. Here, we experimentally blindfold male E. carcharodonta to mimic the female phenotype and examine the effects on sex-specific niches and behavior. Blindfolding does not appear to grossly change male behavior, nor do females behave differently when exposed to blindfolded males. This lead us to conclude that the development of complex eyes in male E. arises from ecological selection rather than sexual selection. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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