WHEN RENSCH MEETS BERGMANN: DOES SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM CHANGE SYSTEMATICALLY WITH LATITUDE?
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- Published by The Society for the Study of Evolution in Evolution
- Vol. 60 (10), 2004-11
- https://doi.org/10.1554/06-110.1
Abstract
Bergmann’s and Rensch’s rules describe common large-scale patterns of body size variation, but their underlying causes remain elusive. Bergmann’s rule states that organisms are larger at higher latitudes (or in colder climates). Rensch’s rule states that male body size varies (or evolutionarily diverges) more than female body size among species, resulting in slopes greater than one when male size is regressed on female size. We use published studies of sex-specific latitudinal body size clines in vertebrates and invertebrates to investigate patterns equivalent to Rensch’s rule among populations within species and to evaluate their possible relation to Bergmann’s rule. Consistent with previous studies, we found a continuum of Bergmann (larger at higher latitudes: 58 species) and converse Bergmann body size clines (larger at lower latitudes: 40 species). Ignoring latitude, male size was more variable than female size in only 55 of 98 species, suggesting that intraspecific variation in sexual size dimorphism does not generally conform to Rensch’s rule. In contrast, in a significant majority of species (66 of 98) male latitudinal body size clines were steeper than those of females. This pattern is consistent with a latitudinal version of Rensch’s rule, and suggests that some factor that varies systematically with latitude is responsible for producing Rensch’s rule among populations within species. Identifying the underlying mechanisms will require studies quantifying latitudinal variation in sexspecific natural and sexual selection on body sizeKeywords
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- LATITUDINAL VARIATION IN SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM OF SEA-RUN MASU SALMON, ONCORHYNCHUS MASOUEvolution, 2006
- Allometry for Sexual Size Dimorphism: Testing Two Hypotheses for Rensch’s Rule in the Water StriderAquarius remigisThe American Naturalist, 2005
- Body size, sexual size dimorphism, and Rensch's rule in adult hydropsychid caddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2003
- BERGMANN's RULE IN NONAVIAN REPTILES: TURTLES FOLLOW IT, LIZARDS AND SNAKES REVERSE ITEvolution, 2003
- POPULATION VARIATION IN SEXUAL SELECTION AND ITS EFFECT ON SIZE ALLOMETRY IN TWO DUNG FLY SPECIES WITH CONTRASTING SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISMEvolution, 2002
- THE EVOLUTION OF SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM IN THE HOUSE FINCH. II. POPULATION DIVERGENCE IN RELATION TO LOCAL SELECTIONEvolution, 2000
- SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN RELATION TO CURRENT SELECTION IN THE HOUSE FINCHEvolution, 2000
- Comment—Bergmann's rule is invalid: a reply to V. GeistCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1990
- The relationships between winter climate and selection on body size of house sparrowsCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1984
- ALLOMETRY AND SIZE IN ONTOGENY AND PHYLOGENYBiological Reviews, 1966