Parasites as a viability cost of sexual selection in natural populations of mammals
Parasites as a viability cost of sexual selection in natural populations of mammals
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DOI：
10.1126/science.1074196
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发表时间：
2002-09-20
期刊：
影响因子：
56.9
通讯作者：
Wilson, K
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Moore, SL;Wilson, K
哺乳动物的性选择导致了性别大小二态性（SSD）的进化，雄性通常是较大的性别。比较分析表明，SSD的演变与男性偏向死亡率的演变有关，这表明两者之间可能存在因果关系。在这里，我们使用比较的方法来调查可能的作用，寄生虫在产生这种关系。我们发现，有一个强大的男性偏见的寄生和性选择的程度之间的关联，测量交配系统（一夫一妻制或一夫多妻制）和SSD的程度。也有一个积极的相关性，跨类群，男性偏向的死亡率和男性偏向的寄生。这些结果是一致的假设，寄生虫有助于SSD和男性偏见的死亡率之间观察到的关联。
Sexual selection in mammals has resulted in the evolution of sexual size dimorphism (SSD), with males usually being the larger sex. Comparative analyses indicate that the evolution of SSD is associated with the evolution of male-biased mortality, suggesting a possible causal link between the two. Here, we use a comparative approach to investigate the possible role of parasites in generating this relation. We show that there is a robust association between male-biased parasitism and the degree of sexual selection, as measured by mating system ( monogamous or polygynous) and by the degree of SSD. There is also a positive correlation, across taxa, between male-biased mortality and male-biased parasitism. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that parasites contribute to the observed association between SSD and male-biased mortality.