Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection

Summary Quantitative genetic models of sexual selection have disporven some of the central tenets of both the handicap mechanism and the sexy son hypothesis. These results suggest that the good genes approach to sexual selection may generally lead to erroneous results.Runaway sexual selection seems possible under a wide variety of circumstances. Quantittive genetic models have revealed runaway processes for sexually selected attributes expressed in both sexes and for attributes of parental care. Furthermore, the runaway could occur simultaneously in a series of populations that straddle an environmental gradient. While the models support the feasibility of runaway processes, empirical studies are needed to evaluate whether runaways actually happen. Estimates of critical genetic parameters are particularly needed, as well as measures of natural and sexual selection acting on the same population.The models also show that sexual selection has tremendous potential to produce population differentiation, particularly in epigamic traits. Differentiation is promoted by indeterminancy of evolutionary outcome, transient differences among populations during the final slow approach to equilibrium, sampling drift among equilibrium populations, and the tendency of sexual selection to amplify geographic variation arising from spatial differences in natural selection. Recent work with two- and three-locus models of sexual selection has produced results that parallel the results of the polygenic models^36–38,58. Thus the feature of indeterminate equilibria (outcome dependent on initial conditions) is common to both types of model.     

棕色田鼠和沼泽田鼠脑内部结构性二型的比较研究

对棕色田鼠和沼泽田鼠大脑中央视前区、终纹床核、杏仁核、大脑皮层、扣带回、海马、齿状回等进行了测量和比较,结果发现,雌雄沼泽田鼠终纹底核、杏仁核和中央视前区的差异,比棕色田鼠两性间更为显著,而棕色田鼠大脑皮层和海马显著大于沼泽田鼠．大脑皮层和海马是参与记忆痕迹的结构,且大脑皮层又与社会行为有关．因此,推测棕色田鼠和沼泽田鼠性二型的差异可能与两种田鼠的婚配制度有关．     

衢州中国石龙子形态特征和雌体繁殖输出

通过报道浙江衢州中国石龙子成体形态特征的两性异形和雌体繁殖输出，测定了雌雄两性个体的体长、体重、头长和头宽、附肢长和腹长，除腹长无显著两性差异外，其他形态特征均表现为雄性个体大于雌性个体。衢州种群雌体年产单窝卵，平均窝卵数，窝卵重和平均卵重分别为16．8，8．767g和0．589g．     

A new species in the genus Grandidierella Coutière (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from an Australian solar salt-works

Grandidierella propodentata sp. nov., a third Australian species of the genus, is described. It was collected from among algae in a hypersaline lagoon in Queensland. Sexual dimorphism of the uropods is reported for the first time in this genus.     

Ants feeding on anal exudate from tortricid larvae: a new type of trophobiosis

A new type of trophobiosis between tortricid larvae of a hitherto unknown genus and species, and various ant species of the subfamilies Formicinae, Dolichoderinae and Myrmicinae, was found in Malaysia. The larvae live in silken shelters fixed to the leaves of bamboo. In response to mechanical stimuli from the ants, they discharge from the anus a liquid containing sugar and amino acids and/or protein. The tortricid is described as Semutophila saccharopa gen. nov., sp. nov.; a second species, S. susurra sp. nov., is described from New Guinea.     

Female-limited polymorphism and its significance in Appias (Catophaga) nero corazonae Schröder and Treadaway, 1989 (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Diagnostic characters are presented for Appias nero corazonae, a pierid butterfly from the Sulu Archipelago, Philippines, that exhibits female-limited polymorphism. The potential significance of A. n. corazonae for genetic investigations into Darwinian transference, the hypothetical process whereby bright colouration first evolves in the males of a species and is later ‘transferred’ to the females, is discussed.     

Natural history of the marsupial Thylamys macrurus (Mammalia,Didelphidae) in fragments of savannah in southwestern Brazil

The objective of this study was to furnish information on the natural history of the Neotropical marsupial Thylamys macrurus in the southern Cerrado of Brazil. A range expansion of the species was observed to the northeast of the Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil. Specimens were surveyed in fragments of savannah (40–600 ha) during dry and wet seasons in 2003 and 2004 with live‐trap grids and pitfall lines. With an effort of 9767 trap nights and 2200 pitfall nights, we obtained 102 captures and 49 recaptures of T. macrurus. The data analyzed (57 males and 40 females) showed that males are more abundant in the dry season and females in the wet season. Young were recorded mostly during the wet season. Thylamys macrurus was scansorial, using the floor and the understorey. Sexual dimorphism was recorded, with males being larger than females. Information on ectoparasites is supplied.     

Subspeciation or none? The hardun in the Aegean (Reptilia: Sauria: Agamidae: Laudakia stellio)

A study aimed at testing the contested validity of the subspecies Laudakia stellio daani yielded novel insights into the essence of subspecies. We examined morphologically museum specimens from Greece, Aegean islands, and Anatolia (n?=?118; not all could be used in all analyses). Beyond the conventional mensural, meristic and qualitative characters we quantified 14 coloration characters, thus totalling 34 characters (including sex). Biometry was statistically analysed within and between the two geographically defined presumed subspecies, L. s. daani and L. s. stellio. Excluding or including broken‐tailed specimens changed the outcome of tests. Significant minor directional asymmetry occurred in one of four character‐taxon combinations. Phenetic cluster analysis poorly separated the two presumed subspecies when all characters, including those with discordant variation, were included; after selection of characters, the separation improved. Some biometric characters distinguish the two presumed subspecies, confirming their validity. The associations of significant inter‐character correlations differed between the two subspecies. Additionally, the two differed in parameters reflecting selection pressures and social structure: L. s. stellio is more colourful than L. s. daani; its sexual dimorphism is mainly chromatic, versus mensural in L. s. daani; and its population seems to include many males with underdeveloped callous scales, presumably socially subordinate, versus very few in L. s. daani.     

虎皮鹦鹉发声控制神经核团与鸣叫行为的性双态性研究

本文应用石蜡切片的方法，对成年虎皮鹦鹉的前脑发声控制神经核团：上纹状体腹侧尾核（Hyperstriatum ventrale pars Canssle,HVC)。古纹状体粗核（Nucleus robustus archistriaylis,RA)和嗅叶X区（Area X)进行了观察和比较；并采用计算机鸣声分析技术对虎皮鹦鹉的鸣声进行了分析。结果发现：雄鸟的三个发声控制神经核团体积明显大于雌鸟的三个发声控制神经核团体积。雄鸟的叫声明显比雌鸟的叫声复杂多变。这些结果提示虎皮鹦鹉的发声控制神经核团与鸣叫行为都存在着性双态性。     

虎纹蛙在产卵前后血浆性激素变化的研究

本文研究了虎纹蛙产卵前后血浆性激素变化,得到如下结果;雄性虎纹蛙在交配期血浆睾酮的含量较非交配期高,提示间质细胞分泌的激素与精子的形成相关。雌性虎纹蛙在产卵前血浆雌二醇含量较产卵后高,说明卵泡分泌的激素可能影响其他性征的发育。