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Modelling sex roles in animals using life-history traits and population characteristics

Samuel, Justine
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1703170725266109

Abstract Details

2023, MS, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Biological Sciences.
The Darwin-Bateman paradigm theorizes that males maximize their reproductive success by mating indiscriminately and often, while females benefit by investing in the selection of a smaller number of high-quality males. However, there is increasing recognition that sexual selection occurs on both male and female traits, even within species, and that sex roles operate dynamically on a continuum influenced by numerous factors. Even so, much variation in the strength and direction of sexual selection remains unexplained. This study examines variation in sex roles across the animal kingdom by conducting a synthesis on existing sexual selection research where we model the relative strength of sexual selection between sexes using generally-available predictors including potential reproductive rates and mating systems. The results demonstrate that (1) the commonly-invoked potential reproductive rate is important in modeling sex differences in the Bateman gradient and opportunity for sexual selection, while the importance of sex ratios appears in this study to be eclipsed by other variables, and (2) sex-role models are significantly more robust when interactions between variables are accounted for. We conclude that sex roles are highly context-dependent and should be modeled according to a mix of population and life-history characteristics.
Stephen Matter, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Michal Polak, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Nathan Morehouse, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
56 p.
Biology
Sexual selection; Bateman gradient; Sex roles

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Samuel, J. (2023). Modelling sex roles in animals using life-history traits and population characteristics [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1703170725266109

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Samuel, Justine. Modelling sex roles in animals using life-history traits and population characteristics. 2023. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1703170725266109.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Samuel, Justine. "Modelling sex roles in animals using life-history traits and population characteristics." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2023. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1703170725266109

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1703170725266109
62
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.