A biogeographic reversal in sexual size dimorphism along a continental temperature gradient

Tarr, Simon; Meiri, Shai; Hicks, James J.; Algar, Adam C.

doi:10.1111/ecog.03593

Cited by 17 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 77 publications

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“…For example, the evolution of life‐history traits associated with fecundity (e.g., clutch size, egg size, parity) can be shaped strongly by selection from the climate (Jetz et al., 2008; Meiri et al., 2020; Pincheira‐Donoso & Hunt, 2017; Pincheira‐Donoso et al., 2013; Shine, 2005). Thus, the configuration of geographical gradients in the variation of these climate‐sensitive traits is expected (Pincheira‐Donoso & Hunt, 2017; Tarr et al., 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To address the role of climate on SSD (Agha et al., 2018; Pincheira‐Donoso & Hunt, 2017; Tarr et al., 2019), we created an environmental dataset with multiple predictors obtained using geographical range maps for all the amphibian species for which distributional data are available at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) archive (http://www.iucnredlist.org). This dataset consists of mean annual temperature (averaged across the 12 months of the year, in degrees Celsius), temperature seasonality (calculated as the standard deviation of the annual mean temperature × 100, in degrees Celsius), mean annual precipitation (the average amount of rainfall, measured in millimetres per year) and precipitation seasonality (coefficient of variation of monthly precipitation across the year).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although some studies conducted across vertebrates and invertebrates have implemented large‐scale approaches to address some of the multiple predictions described above (Amarello et al., 2010; Blanckenhorn et al., 2006; Cox et al., 2003; Dunham et al., 2013; Joos et al., 2017; Michael et al., 2014; Tarr et al., 2019), truly integrative analyses remain anecdotal. The only global‐scale studies to date have investigated the relationships between environmental pressures (climate and ecology) and SSD and have revealed contradictory findings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The multiple origins of sexual size dimorphism in global amphibians

Pincheira‐Donoso

Harvey

Grattarola

et al. 2020

Global Ecol. Biogeogr.

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Aim Body size explains most of the variation in fitness within animal populations and is therefore under constant selection from ecological and reproductive pressures, which often promote its evolution in sex‐specific directions, leading to sexual size dimorphism (SSD). Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the vast diversity of SSD across species. These hypotheses emphasize: (a) the mate competition benefits to larger male size (sexual selection); (b) the benefits of larger female size for fecundity (fecundity selection); (c) the simultaneous benefits of niche divergence for males and females to reduce intersexual competition for ecological resources (natural selection); and (d) the underlying impact of geographical variation in climatic pressures expected to shape large‐scale patterns of SSD in synergy with the above selection pressures (e.g., intensification of fecundity selection as breeding seasons shorten). Based on a new, global‐scale amphibian dataset, we address the shortage of large‐scale, integrative tests of these four hypotheses. Location Global. Time period Extant. Major taxa studied Class Amphibia. Methods Using a > 3,500 species dataset spanning body size, ecological, life‐history, geographical and climatic data, we performed phylogenetic linear models to address the sexual, fecundity, ecological and climatic hypotheses of SSD. Results Evolution of SSD is discordant between anurans and salamanders. Anuran SSD is shaped by climate (male‐biased SSD increases with temperature seasonality) and by nesting site. In salamanders, SSD converges across species that occupy the same types of microhabitats (“ecodimorphs”), whereas reproductive or climatic pressures have no effects on their SSD. These contrasts are associated with latitudinal gradients of SSD in anurans, but not in salamanders. Main conclusions Amphibian SSD is driven by ecological and climatic pressures, whereas no roles for sexual or fecundity selection were detected. We show that macroevolutionary processes determined by different forms of selection lead to latitudinal patterns of trait diversity, and the lack of them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The multiple origins of sexual size dimorphism in global amphibians

Pincheira‐Donoso

Harvey

Grattarola

et al. 2020

Global Ecol. Biogeogr.

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“…Although to date the patterns of reptile body size–climate correlations have been studied in North America (Olalla‐Tárraga et al, 2006; Tarr et al., 2019), Europe (Olalla‐Tárraga et al, 2006), and Australia (Feldman & Meiri, 2014), the geographical variation in lizard body size at the macro level has rarely been examined in China (but see Guo, 2016 for lizards at inter‐ and intraspecific level). This represents a significant omission, given that China is considered an ecologically important evolutionary domain for studying the pattern of body size–climate correlations of lizards because of the country's wide climatic trends across both latitudinal (3.85°–53.56°) and altitudinal (from −154.31 m to 8,848.86 m) gradients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial patterns in the size of Chinese lizards are driven by multiple factors

Liang

Zhang

Dai

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Squamates exhibit a global latitudinal diversity gradient (Pyron, 2014; Roll et al., 2017), although this has not yet been explored as in‐depth as for other groups, and studies reporting gradients have often focused on addressing related questions, rather than investigating the nature of the gradient itself (e.g. Gainsbury & Meiri, 2017; Olalla‐Tárraga et al., 2006; Tarr et al., 2019). Nevertheless, different species richness patterns have been reported for lizards and snakes on multiple continents (Lewin et al., 2016; Olalla‐Tárraga et al., 2006), and at least one clade of snakes in the Americas is known to exhibit an inverse latitudinal diversity gradient (Pyron & Burbrink, 2009), implying that not all squamates follow the same broad latitudinal and environmental patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latitudinal and environmental patterns of species richness in lizards and snakes across continental North America

Whiting

Fox

2020

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim Little is known about the contributions of individual clades to the broader latitudinal diversity gradients of lizards and snakes in North America. Additionally, the environmental variables underpinning these patterns have not been extensively studied, nor have the relationships between squamate species richness and biome variety, a proxy for habitat heterogeneity. Here, we deconstruct the latitudinal diversity gradient of squamates and investigate lizard and snake species richness in relation to environmental gradients and biomes across continental North America. Location North America, excluding islands. Taxon Squamata (lizards and snakes). Methods We collated a suite of environmental variables (n = 10) and squamate species ranges (n = 1,152) in an equal‐area grid system (100 × 100 km cells) spanning continental North America. We deconstructed the latitudinal diversity gradient of squamates and examined species richness patterns for all lizards, all snakes and several individual squamate clades. We used multiple linear regressions to determine which environmental factors are most important for each squamate clade. Finally, we documented species richness within biomes and tested for correlations between species richness and biome variety. Results Squamates exhibit a strong latitudinal diversity gradient across continental North America. Snakes are more widespread and have a stronger gradient than lizards. Our multiple linear regression results indicate strong associations between species richness and environmental variables for all individual squamate clades analysed; temperature variables are strongly positively correlated with species richness. Biome variety is more strongly correlated with lizard species richness than snake species richness. Squamates are most species‐rich in tropical/subtropical forests, deserts and mangroves. Main conclusions Most snake clades in North America exhibit strong latitudinal diversity gradients, but only two lizard clades, Dactyloidae (anoles) and Gekkota (geckos), display strong gradients and thus drive the overall lizard pattern. Squamate clades differ in their responses to environmental gradients, as reflected by their species richness patterns, with warmer climates generally harboring more species. Lizards are more strongly associated with habitat heterogeneity than snakes are, consistent with results from previous studies. Squamates in more rapidly shifting biomes (e.g. deserts, mangroves) may face a greater risk of extinction from impending climate change.

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A biogeographic reversal in sexual size dimorphism along a continental temperature gradient

Cited by 17 publications

References 77 publications

The multiple origins of sexual size dimorphism in global amphibians

The multiple origins of sexual size dimorphism in global amphibians

Spatial patterns in the size of Chinese lizards are driven by multiple factors

Latitudinal and environmental patterns of species richness in lizards and snakes across continental North America

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