Abstract
Intra-sexual dimorphism is found in the weapons of many male beetles. Different behavioral tactics to access females between major and minor males, which adopt fighting and alternative tactics, respectively, are thought to maintain the male dimorphism. In these species major males have enlarged weapons that they use in fights with rival males. Minor males also have small weapons in some of these species, and it is unclear why these males possess weapons. We examined the hypothesis that minor males might adopt a fighting tactic when their status was relatively high in comparison with that of other males (e.g., ownership of a territory). We observed the behavioral tactics of major and minor males of the beetle Librodor japonicus, whose males have a dimorphism of their mandibles. Major males fought for resources, whereas minor males adopted two status-dependent tactics, fighting and sneaking, to access females, depending on their ownership of a sap site. We suggest that ownership status-dependent mating tactics in minor males may maintain the intra-sexual dimorphism in this beetle.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 255-261 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Ethology |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2007 |
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Keywords
- Allometry
- Alternative phenotype
- Exaggerated trait
- Male competition
- Status-dependent selection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Cite this
Ownership-dependent mating tactics of minor males of the beetle Librodor japonicus (Nitidulidae) with intra-sexual dimorphism of mandibles. / Okada, Kensuke; Miyatake, Takahisa.
In: Journal of Ethology, Vol. 25, No. 3, 09.2007, p. 255-261.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ownership-dependent mating tactics of minor males of the beetle Librodor japonicus (Nitidulidae) with intra-sexual dimorphism of mandibles
AU - Okada, Kensuke
AU - Miyatake, Takahisa
PY - 2007/9
Y1 - 2007/9
N2 - Intra-sexual dimorphism is found in the weapons of many male beetles. Different behavioral tactics to access females between major and minor males, which adopt fighting and alternative tactics, respectively, are thought to maintain the male dimorphism. In these species major males have enlarged weapons that they use in fights with rival males. Minor males also have small weapons in some of these species, and it is unclear why these males possess weapons. We examined the hypothesis that minor males might adopt a fighting tactic when their status was relatively high in comparison with that of other males (e.g., ownership of a territory). We observed the behavioral tactics of major and minor males of the beetle Librodor japonicus, whose males have a dimorphism of their mandibles. Major males fought for resources, whereas minor males adopted two status-dependent tactics, fighting and sneaking, to access females, depending on their ownership of a sap site. We suggest that ownership status-dependent mating tactics in minor males may maintain the intra-sexual dimorphism in this beetle.
AB - Intra-sexual dimorphism is found in the weapons of many male beetles. Different behavioral tactics to access females between major and minor males, which adopt fighting and alternative tactics, respectively, are thought to maintain the male dimorphism. In these species major males have enlarged weapons that they use in fights with rival males. Minor males also have small weapons in some of these species, and it is unclear why these males possess weapons. We examined the hypothesis that minor males might adopt a fighting tactic when their status was relatively high in comparison with that of other males (e.g., ownership of a territory). We observed the behavioral tactics of major and minor males of the beetle Librodor japonicus, whose males have a dimorphism of their mandibles. Major males fought for resources, whereas minor males adopted two status-dependent tactics, fighting and sneaking, to access females, depending on their ownership of a sap site. We suggest that ownership status-dependent mating tactics in minor males may maintain the intra-sexual dimorphism in this beetle.
KW - Allometry
KW - Alternative phenotype
KW - Exaggerated trait
KW - Male competition
KW - Status-dependent selection
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U2 - 10.1007/s10164-006-0021-0
DO - 10.1007/s10164-006-0021-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34548189027
VL - 25
SP - 255
EP - 261
JO - Journal of Ethology
JF - Journal of Ethology
SN - 0289-0771
IS - 3
ER -