Sex differences in the genetic architecture of aggressiveness in a sexually dimorphic spider

Kralj‐Fišer, Simona; Laskowski, Kate L.; García‐González, Francisco

doi:10.1002/ece3.5595

Cited by 16 publications

(20 citation statements)

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“…Our results on repeatable individual differences in behaviors related to aggression are consistent with previous studies (reviewed in [ 3 , 39 ]), including other spider species, e.g., D. triton [ 13 ], L. sclopetarius [ 40 ], N. livida [ 22 ], Zygiella x-notata , and Nuctenea umbratica [ 41 ]. Furthermore, variation in aggression is moderately heritable (e.g., L. sclopetarius [ 21 , 40 ]) and N. umbratica ([ 42 ], reviewed in [ 43 ]) and often has fitness consequences (reviewed in [ 5 ]). For example, aggression in L. sclopetarius males correlates positively to the number of sired offspring, suggesting that aggressive males have a sperm competition advantage [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Size, Not Personality, Explains Both Male Mating Success and Sexual Cannibalism in a Widow Spider

Golobinek

Gregorič

Kralj‐Fišer

2021

Biology

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Theory suggests that consistent individual variation in behavior relates to fitness, but few studies have empirically examined the role of personalities in mate choice, male-male competition and reproductive success. We observed the Mediterranean black widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, in the individual and mating context, to test how body size measures and two functionally important aggressive behaviors, i.e., male aggression towards rivals and female voracity towards prey, affect mating behaviors, mating success and sexual cannibalism. We specifically selected voracity towards prey in females to test the “aggressive spillover hypothesis”, suggesting that more voracious females are more sexually cannibalistic. Both females and males exhibit consistent individual differences in the examined aggressive behaviors. While larger males win contests more often and achieve more copulations, neither male nor female size measures correlate to aggression. Female voracity does not correlate with aggression towards mates and sexual cannibalism, rejecting the “spillover hypothesis”. However, occurrence of sexual cannibalism positively relates to longer insertion duration. Furthermore, the smaller the ratio between male and female body length the more likely a female attacked and cannibalized a mate. We show that individual variation in aggression levels plays no direct role in the mating behavior of the Mediterranean black widow. Instead, body size affects male mating success and occurrences of sexual cannibalism in females.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Size, Not Personality, Explains Both Male Mating Success and Sexual Cannibalism in a Widow Spider

Golobinek

Gregorič

Kralj‐Fišer

2021

Biology

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“…Furthermore, a recent study in an orb-web spider, Nuctenea umbratica, found higher heritability of aggression in males compared to females, though females and males did not differ in additive genetic variation of this trait (Kralj-Fišer et al 2019). The two sexes, however, showed no differentiation in genetic architecture of activity (Kralj-Fišer et al 2019). Similarly, the quantitative genetic study by White and colleagues 2019 suggested that behavioral traits related to risk-taking in the Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata, where males are bolder, lack sex-specific genetic architecture within traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…We note that in some contexts, assortative mating can potentially bias estimates of variance components and heritability. However, if the phenotypes of all individuals including parents are included in an animal model (Walsh and Lynch 2018), as is the case here, assortative mating in fact serves to increase the precision of the estimates (Michael Morrissey unpublished; see Kralj-Fišer et al 2019).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, in the southern field crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus, where males are more aggressive and more explorative than females, males have higher genetic variance for both behaviors, and there is a low cross-sex genetic correlation for aggression implying a degree of genetic independence for these traits between males and females, and a resolution of sexual conflict to some extent (Han and Dingemanse 2017). Furthermore, a recent study in an orb-web spider, Nuctenea umbratica, found higher heritability of aggression in males compared to females, though females and males did not differ in additive genetic variation of this trait (Kralj-Fišer et al 2019). The two sexes, however, showed no differentiation in genetic architecture of activity (Kralj-Fišer et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Sex-Specific Genetic Architecture Of Behavioral Traits In A Spider

Kralj‐Fišer

Schneider

Kuntner

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Sex differences in behavioral traits are common, but we know little about the role of sexual selection in shaping these traits. Estimating sex-specific genetic effects and cross-sex genetic correlations can provide insights into sex-specific selection and on whether evolution can shape independent expression of behavioral traits across the sexes. We conducted a quantitative genetic study in a sexually-size-dimorphic spider, Larinioides sclopetarius, which exhibits sex differences in adult life-styles. We observed pedigreed spiders for aggression, activity, exploration and boldness, and used animal models to disentangle genetic and environmental influences on these behaviors. We detected higher additive genetic variances in activity and aggression in males compared to females, but no sex differences in quantitative genetic estimates for exploration and boldness. The estimated mean cross-sex genetic correlation in all traits were close to zero suggesting these traits could have flexibility for sex-independent evolution. We note however, that the 95% credible intervals of cross-sex genetic correlation are large, and thus estimates uncertain. Our results imply that individual variation in aggression and activity might stem from sex-specific selection acting on these traits. The estimates of sex-specific additive genetic variation and cross-sex genetic correlation suggests their further sex-independent evolution. Taken together, our results support the notion that sexual selection can play an important role shaping behavioral traits.

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“…Furthermore, a recent study in an orb-web spider, Nuctenea umbratica, found higher heritability of aggression in males compared with females, though females and males did not differ in additive genetic variation of this trait Kralj-Fišer et al, 2019). The two sexes, however, showed no differentiation in genetic architecture of activity (Kralj-Fišer et al, 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 87%