Literaturdatenbank

WIKINDX Resources

Bonnet, X., Delmas, V., Mouden, E. H. E., Slimani, T., Sterijovski, B., & Kuchling, G. (2010). Is sexual body shape dimorphism consistent in aquatic and terrestrial chelonians? Zoology, (article in press). 
Added by: Admin (22 Oct 2010 20:34:59 UTC)
Resource type: Journal Article
DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2010.03.001
BibTeX citation key: Bonnet2010
View all bibliographic details
Categories: General
Keywords: Chelidae, Chelodina, Chelodina colliei, Fortpflanzung = reproduction, Geoemydidae, Mauremys, Mauremys leprosa, Morphologie = morphology, Schildkröten = turtles + tortoises
Creators: Bonnet, Delmas, Kuchling, Mouden, Slimani, Sterijovski
Collection: Zoology
Views: 8/1019
Views index: 20%
Popularity index: 5%
Abstract     
Testudinidae Testudo Geochelone Comparisons between aquatic and terrestrial species provide an opportunity to examine how sex-specific adaptations interact with the environment to influence body shape. In terrestrial female tortoises, selection for fecundity favors the development of a large internal abdominal cavity to accommodate the clutch; in conspecific males, sexual selection favors mobility with large openings in the shell. To examine to what extent such trends apply in aquatic chelonians we compared the body shape of males and females of two aquatic turtles (Chelodina colliei and Mauremys leprosa). In both species, females were larger than males. When controlled for body size, females exhibited a greater relative internal volume and a higher body condition index than males; both traits potentially correlate positively with fecundity. Males were more streamlined (hydrodynamic), and exhibited larger openings in the shell providing more space to move their longer limbs; such traits probably improve mobility and copulation ability (the males chase and grab the female for copulation). Overall, although the specific constraints imposed by terrestrial and aquatic locomotion shape the morphology of chelonians differently (aquatic turtles were flatter, hence more hydrodynamic than terrestrial tortoises), the direction for sexual shape dimorphism remained unaffected. Our main conclusion is that the direction of sexual shape dimorphism is probably more consistent than sexual size dimorphism in the animal kingdom.
Added by: Admin  
wikindx 4.2.2 ©2014 | Total resources: 14930 | Database queries: 61 | Script execution: 0.27926 secs | Style: American Psychological Association (APA) | Bibliography: WIKINDX Master Bibliography