Adult body size = f (initial size + growth rate × age): explaining the proximate cause of Bergman’s cline in a toad along altitudinal gradients

We investigated the possible role of environmental variables in determining body size within a complex of salamander species (Desmognathus quadramaculatus). We analyzed data generated from life-history studies on populations from throughout the range of this species complex. We incorporated an alternative-hypothesis framework (sensu Platt) to determine the better predictor of adult body size, age at maturity, or size at metamorphosis. We found that almost 90% of the variation in adult body size was explained by size at metamorphosis, which was determined by a combination of rate of larval growth and length of the larval period. Environmental temperature and moisture level were positively correlated with larval growth rate and length of the larval period, respectively. We propose a simple model of body-size evolution that incorporates both adaptive and plastic components. We suggest that the length of the larval period may adaptively respond to moisture-level predictability. In addition, we suggest that the response of the larval growth rate to temperature may be plastic. Because the selection pressure due to drying-induced mortality is pervasive among species of amphibians, it may have played a role in shaping body-size radiation in desmognathines as well as the ecological structure of Appalachian streamside communities.

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Elevational variation in adult body size and growth rate but not in metabolic rate in the tree weta Hemideina crassidens

Journal of Insect Physiology ◽

10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.02.012 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 75 ◽

pp. 30-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mariana Bulgarella ◽

Steven A. Trewick ◽

A. Jonathan R. Godfrey ◽

Brent J. Sinclair ◽

Mary Morgan-Richards

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Body Size ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Adult Body Size ◽

Adult Body ◽

Hemideina Crassidens ◽

Elevational Variation ◽

Tree Weta

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Growth in a cold environment: body size and sexual maturity in a northern population of spotted turtles, Clemmys guttata

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z98-002 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 76 (5) ◽

pp. 773-782 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jacqueline D Litzgus ◽

Ronald J Brooks

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Body Size ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Carapace Length ◽

Temperate Climate ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Adult Body Size ◽

Clemmys Guttata ◽

Adult Body

Using mark-recapture data collected from 1978 to 1997, we examined growth rates, adult body size, and age and size at sexual maturity of spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a northern temperate climate. Relative instantaneous growth rate analyses indicated that growth rates were inversely related to body size, individual variation in growth rate was high, and females and males did not differ with respect to growth rates. Growth of our spotted turtles was described well by both the von Bertalanffy and logistic growth models, although the von Bertalanffy model provided a slightly better fit to our data. Asymptotic sizes and intrinsic growth factors did not differ between the sexes. Northern spotted turtles reach a larger mean adult body size relative to southern populations. Turtles were not sexually size dimorphic with respect to carapace length; however, plastron length was greater in females than in males. Sexual maturity was reached at a larger size (a carapace length of approximately 103 mm for females and 105 mm for males) and estimated age (12-15 years for females and 11-13 years for males) in northern spotted turtles relative to more southerly conspecifics.

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A new module of AFRIMS’ spoon for larval food quantity affects development time, survival and adult body size ofAnopheles dirusunder laboratory conditions

10.1603/ice.2016.109374 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Kanchana Pantuwattana

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Development Time ◽

Larval Food ◽

Adult Body Size ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

Food Quantity ◽

Adult Body

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Heritability and adaptive phenotypic plasticity of adult body size in the mosquito Aedes aegypti with implications for dengue vector competence

Infection Genetics and Evolution ◽

10.1016/j.meegid.2010.10.019 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 11-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Jennifer R. Schneider ◽

Dave D. Chadee ◽

Akio Mori ◽

Jeanne Romero-Severson ◽

David W. Severson

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Vector Competence ◽

Dengue Vector ◽

Adult Body Size ◽

Adult Body ◽

Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity

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Grass-flower thrips of the genus Chirothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), with a key to species from Iran

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2411.1.3 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2411 (1) ◽

pp. 33 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

KAMBIZ MINAEI ◽

LAURENCE MOUND

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Species Group ◽

Identification Key ◽

Key To Species ◽

Adult Body Size ◽

Flower Thrips ◽

New Synonym ◽

Adult Body ◽

Structural Differences

Species of the genus Chirothrips Haliday breed and pupate only within grass florets. Each larva is restricted to a single floret, and adult body size is thus presumably related to floret size. Despite this, some Chirothrips species are distinguished only on states that are related to body size. The validity of some commonly recorded members of the C. manicatus species-group, including C. africanus and C. pallidicornis, is therefore considered questionable. Character states that have been used to define the genus Agrostothrips Hood are shown to be variable, and this genus is placed as a new synonym of Chirothrips. An identification key, based on illustrated structural differences, is provided to the Chirothrips known from Iran: C. aculeatus, C. atricorpus, C. kurdistanus, C. manicatus, C. meridionalis and C. molestus.

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