A Comparative Analysis of Allometry for Sexual Size Dimorphism: Assessing Rensch's Rule

Abstract

Rensch's rule states that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) increases with body size (hyperallometry) in taxa in which males are the larger sex and decreases with body size (hypoallometry) in those in which females are larger. We use the independent contrasts method to assess the validity and generality of Rensch's rule within 21 independent animal taxa. Allometry is estimated as the slope of the major axis regression of contrasts for log(female size) versus contrasts for log(male size). Allometry consistent with Rensch's rule is significant in 33% of the taxa examined across a diverse range of invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. Significant allometry inconsistent with Rensch's rule occurs in only one taxon. Meta-analysis of these results reveals that Rensch's rule is general and highly significant. Only owls have allometry inconsistent with this trend. Rensch's rule is also shown to be associated with male-biased SSD, which is consistent with the hypothesis that sexual selection acting on male size drives the evolution of this pattern of allometry.