Differences in Sexual Size Dimorphism and Body Proportions between Adult and Subadult House Sparrows in North America

The Auk ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Bruce McGillivray ◽  
Richard F. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Winter Temperatures ◽  
Body Core ◽  
Strong Body

Abstract North American samples of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) collected by R. F. Johnston and R. K. Selander (see Johnston and Selander 1971, Johnston 1973) were separated into adult (19 localities) and subadult (21 localities) groups. Significant clines were generated for all age and sex combinations through regression of locality means for body size against environmental seasonality. The strong body-size clines for subadult House Sparrows suggest a large genetic component to geographic variation in House Sparrow body size. There were no significant differences between the male and female clines for either age group. Therefore, there was no consistent relationship between sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in adult House Sparrow populations and environmental factors. Adult levels of SSD were higher than subadult levels at localities with distinct seasonalities. This resulted from selection against relatively large subadult females in areas with cold winters. Adult males were larger than subadult males, but whether this represented growth or selection is equivocal. The ratio of body core to limb variables was correlated poorly with the winter temperatures of the collecting localities. The relationship improved if samples from coastal areas were excluded. Adult levels of this ratio were higher than subadult levels at localities with low January temperatures. Overwinter changes in both House Sparrow size and shape can be correlated with environmental variables. Although selection for efficient thermoregulatory design is implied, it is difficult to account for the mortality of large subadult females over cold winters and to completely discount the effects of growth.

scholarly journals A uni- and multivariate analysis approach to reveal sexual size dimorphism in Iranian populations of Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Biologia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 1228-1233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Sanaei ◽  
Marjan Seiedy ◽  
Farzaneh Momtazi
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Morphological Divergence ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Hypera Postica ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Divergence Pattern ◽  
Iranian Populations

Abstract Body size dimorphism between genders is a commonly observed phenomenon in insects, usually manifested in larger female body size. Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) varies from species to species, the degree and direction influenced by certain evolutionary pressures. Intraspecific variation in SSD may also occur between populations. The Hypera postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) is a well-known alfalfa plant pest that shows a degree of morphological divergence in its populations. The female alfalfa weevils are very fecund and have a larger body size compared to males. To improve our knowledge on magnitude and direction of SSD in alfalfa weevil, we studied 200 specimens of H. postica from four Iranian populations (Karaj1, Karaj2, Tuyserkan and Jovein). 10 morphological variables from three external anatomic parts (pronotum, elytra and rostrum) and 45 ratio characters were statistically analyzed in order to determine the amount of SSD in Iranian populations. In addition we investigated for morphological divergence pattern in mentioned populations. The results of this study show that a low degree of morphological divergence occurs in Iranian populations. Measured variables indicate that the SSD pattern of H. postica is compatible with the Rensch’s rule, and is related to high fecundity of females and a lack of strong sexual selection. Also it is mentioned that the larger rostrum in females may correspond to its unique role in egg laying.

Sexual size dimorphism in the American rubyspot: male body size predicts male competition and mating success

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 987-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Serrano-Meneses ◽  
A. Córdoba-Aguilar ◽  
V. Méndez ◽  
S.J. Layen ◽  
T. Székely
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Mating Success ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Male Competition ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Male Body Size

scholarly journals Bigger Males, Bigger Females? Pigeons’ Sexual Size Dimorphism

2020 ◽  
pp. 20-24
Author(s):  
P. M. Parés- Casanova ◽  
A. Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Wing Length ◽  
Rensch’S Rule ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Rensch's Rule ◽  
Neck Thickness ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Domestic Pigeons

Sexual dimorphism, defined as phenotypic differences between males and females, is a common phenomenon in animals. In this line, Rensch’s rule states that sexual size dimorphism increases with increasing body size when the male is the larger sex and decreases with increasing average body size when the female is the larger sex. Domesticated animals offer excellent opportunities for testing predictions of functional explanations of Rensch’s theory. Pigeon breeds encounters many different functional purposes and selective constraints, which could influence strongly their morphology. The aim of this paper is to examine, for first time, Rensch’s rule among domestic pigeons. It was compiled a database of 12 quantitative traits (body weight, body height, beak thickness, beak length, neck length, neck thickness, wing length, rump width, tail length, tarsus length, tarsus thickness and middle toe length) for males and females of 11 different domestic pigeon breeds: Bangladesh Indigenous, Racing Homer, Turkish Tumbler, Indian Lotan, Kokah, Mookee, Indian Fantail, Bokhara Trumpeter, Bombai, Lahore and Hungarian Giant House; Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) was also considered as wild relative for comparative purposes. Comparative results between males and females showed that only body weight, wing length and neck thickness were consistent with Rensch’s rule. The rest of trait did not present correlations. Among domestic pigeons, there can appear different expressions of dimorphism according to each trait, so it must be considered that Rensch’s rule vary when considering other traits than body weight.

scholarly journals A skeletochronological estimate of age and growth in a large riparian frog from Madagascar (Anura, Mantellidae, Mantidactylus)

Herpetozoa ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio M. Guarino ◽  
Angelica Crottini ◽  
Marcello Mezzasalma ◽  
Jasmin E. Randrianirina ◽  
Franco Andreone
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Growth Trajectories ◽  
Growth Coefficient ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Similar Growth

We characterized the body size (as snout-vent length), age, sexual size dimorphism, and growth rate in a population of one of the larger riparian frog from Madagascar (Mantidactylusgrandidieri) from a rainforest patch close to Vevembe, SE Madagascar. We identified a significant female-biased sexual size dimorphism. Age was estimated using phalangeal skeletochronology and was significantly higher in females than in males. Modal age class turned out to be 4 years in both sexes but a large percentage of adult females (75%) fell in the 5–6 years-old classes, while no male exceeded 4 years. We here report M.grandidieri as a medium-long-lived anuran species. Von Bertalanffy’s model showed similar growth trajectories between the sexes although the growth coefficient in females (k = 0.335) was slightly but not significantly higher than in males (k = 0.329).

scholarly journals Electromagnetic Pollution as a Possible Explanation for the Decline of House Sparrows in Interaction with Other Factors

Birds ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-337
Author(s):  
Alfonso Balmori
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Radiation ◽  
Thermal Effects ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Electromagnetic Pollution ◽  
The Impact

In recent decades, there has been a decline of the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), mainly in European cities, and several hypotheses have been proposed that attempt to determine the causes of this rapid decline. Previous studies indicated that house sparrows were significantly negatively associated with increasing electromagnetic radiation and sparrows disappeared from areas most polluted. In addition, there are many studies on the impact of radiation on other bird and non-bird species, as well as numerous laboratory studies that demonstrated detrimental effects at electric field strength levels that can be found in cities today. Electromagnetic radiation is the most plausible factor for multiple reasons, including that this is the only one that affects the other hypotheses proposed so far. It is a type of pollution that affects productivity, fertility, decreases insects (chicken feed), causes loss of habitat, decreases immunity and can promote disease. Additionally, the recent sparrow decline matches the deployment of mobile telephony networks. Further, there are known mechanisms of action for non-thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation that may affect sparrows causing their decline. Thus, electromagnetic radiation must be seriously considered as a factor for house sparrows’ decline, probably in synergy with the other factors previously proposed.

Glucose and amino acid absorption in house sparrow intestine and its dietary modulation

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. R561-R568 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Caviedes-Vidal ◽  
W. H. Karasov
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Glucose Absorption ◽  
Uptake Capacity ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
High Lipid ◽  
In Vivo Absorption ◽  
High Starch

We acclimated house sparrows (Passer domesticus; 26 g) to high-starch (HS), high-protein (HP), and high-lipid (HL) diets and tested the predictions that uptake of D-glucose and amino acids will be increased with increased levels of dietary carbohydrate and protein, respectively. HS birds had lower mediated D-glucose uptake rate than HP birds. Total uptake of L-leucine at low concentration (0.01 mM), but not of L-proline at 50mM, was increased by dietary protein. Measures of D-glucose maximal mediated uptake (1.2 +/- 0.2 nmol.min-1.mg-1) and intestinal mass (1 g) indicated that the intestine's mediated uptake capacity was only approximately 10% of the D-glucose absorbed at the whole animal level. This implied that nonmediated glucose absorption predominated. We applied a pharmacokinetic technique to measure in vivo absorption of L-glucose, the stereoisomer that does not interact with the Na(+)-glucose cotransporter. At least 75% of L-glucose that was ingested was apparently absorbed. This adds to the increasing evidence that substantial passive glucose absorption occurs in birds and may explain why mediated D-glucose uptake does not increase on high-carbohydrate diets.

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