Sex ratio, sexual dimorphism and mating structure in bethylid wasps

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Hardy, Ian C. W. Mayhew, Peter J.
Copyright Year	1998
Abstract	Abstract Sexual dimorphism has been linked to parasitoid mating structure by several authors. In turn mating structure has an important influence on predicted sex ratio optima. Here we test the relationship between sexual dimorphism and sex ratio using data from 19 species of bethylid wasps. Using phylogenetically based comparative methods we confirm the findings of a previous cross-species analysis that sex ratio (proportion of males) is strongly and negatively correlated with clutch size. Using cross-species comparisons we show an additional positive correlation of sex ratio and relative male size, as predicted. The relationship however is not significant when using phylogenetically based methods. The cross-species result is largely due to differences between two bethylid sub-families: the Epyrinae have relatively large males and relatively high sex ratios, whereas the Bethylinae have relatively small males and lower sex ratios. Our study illustrates the benefits and drawbacks of using cross-species versus phylogenetically based comparisons.
Starting Page	383
Ending Page	395
Page Count	13
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1007/s002650050453
Volume Number	42
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://page-one.springer.com/pdf/preview/10.1007/s002650050453
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/staff/pjm/pdfs/13.PDF
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1007/s002650050453
Journal	Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article