Open AccessThe static allometry of sexual and nonsexual traits in vervet monkeys
Author(s) -
Rodríguez Rafael L.,
Cramer Jennifer Danzy,
Schmitt Christopher A.,
Gaetano Tegan J.,
Grobler J. Paul,
Freimer Nelson B.,
Turner Trudy R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/bij.12440
Subject(s) - allometry , trait , biology , sexual selection , zoology , evolutionary biology , ecology , computer science , programming language
Sexual traits vary tremendously in static allometry. This variation may be explained in part by body size‐related differences in the strength of selection. We tested this hypothesis in two populations of vervet monkeys, using estimates of the level of condition dependence for different morphological traits as a proxy for body size‐related variation in the strength of selection. In support of the hypothesis, we found that the steepness of allometric slopes increased with the level of condition dependence. One trait of particular interest, the penis, had shallow allometric slopes and low levels of condition dependence, in agreement with one of the most consistent patterns yet detected in the study of allometry, namely that of genitalia exhibiting shallow allometries. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2015, 114 , 527–537.