Variation in pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection on male genital size in two species of lygaeid bug.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Sexual selection has been shown to be the driving force behind the evolution of the sometimes extreme and elaborate genitalia of many species. Sexual selection may arise before and/or after mating, or vary according to other factors such as the social environment. However, bouts of selection are typically considered in isolation. We measured the strength and pattern of selection acting on the length of the male intromittent organ (or processus) in two closely related species of lygaeid seed bug: Lygaeus equestris and Lygaeus simulans. In both species, we measured both pre- and post-copulatory selection. For L. equestris, we also varied the experimental choice design used in mating trials. We found contrasting pre- and post-copulatory selection on proce

SUBMITTER: Dougherty LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4788681 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature