Abstract
Although sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is widespread across the animal tree of life, the underlying evolutionary processes that influence this phenomenon remains elusive and difficult to tease apart. In this study, I examined how social system (as a proxy for sexual selection) and diet (as a proxy for natural selection) influenced the evolution of SSD in terrestrial carnivorans (Carnivora; Mammalia). Using phylogenetic comparative methods, I found that are territorial solitary and carnivorous carnivorans exhibited selection towards increased degree of male-biased SSD compared to other carnivorans with alternative social systems and diets. I also found the absence of Rensch’s rule across most carnivoran clades, suggestion a relaxation of the influences of sexual selection on SSD. These results together suggest that sexual selection and niche divergence together are important processes influencing the evolution of male-biased SSD in extant terrestrial carnivorans.
Highlights
Www.nature.com/scientificreports walrus) are the textbook example of the sexual selection hypothesis, as they exhibit a strong relationship between the degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) and polygyny[5,7,26]
Hypothesis 2: Social system and/or diet influenced the evolution of SSD
Sexual selection is often viewed as the major driver of the evolution of sexual dimorphism[2,3]
Summary
Www.nature.com/scientificreports walrus) are the textbook example of the sexual selection hypothesis, as they exhibit a strong relationship between the degree of SSD and polygyny[5,7,26]. If niche divergence is the primary force influencing SSD, I predict that the degree of SSD, either male-biased of female-biased, should be greatest in terrestrial carnivorous carnivorans whereas the SSD should be lowest in carnivorans that feed on nonvertebrate prey and plant material that more abundant and easier to obtain. This would suggest that intraspecific competition for less abundant resources facilitates the evolution of SSD
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