The static allometry of sexual and non-sexual traits in vervet monkeys
Files
Accepted manuscript
Date
2015
DOI
Authors
Rodriguez, Rafael L.
Cramer, Jennifer Danzy
Schmitt, Christopher A.
Gaetano, Tegan J.
Grobler, J. Paul
Freimer, Nelson B.
Turner, Trudy R.
Version
OA Version
Citation
RL Rodriguez, J Danzy Cramer, CA Schmitt, TJ Gaetano, JP Grobler, NB Freimer, TR Turner. 2015. "The static allometry of sexual and non-sexual traits in vervet monkeys." Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 114, pp. 527 - 537 (10).
Abstract
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.