Size dependent sex allocation in a simultaneous hermaphrodite parasite

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_8D486A07DFFE
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Size dependent sex allocation in a simultaneous hermaphrodite parasite
Journal
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Author(s)
Scharer L., Karlsson L. M., Christen M., Wedekind C.
ISSN
1010-061X
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2001
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
14
Number
1
Pages
55-67
Language
english
Abstract
Most models of sex allocation distinguish between sequential and simultaneous hermaphrodites, although an intermediate sexual pattern, size-dependent sex allocation, is widespread in plants. Here we investigated sex allocation in a simultaneous hermaphrodite animal, the tapeworm Schistocephalus solidus, in which adult size is highly variable. Sex allocation was determined using stereological techniques, which allow measuring somatic and reproductive tissues in a common currency, namely volume. We investigated the relationships between individual volume and allocation to different reproductive tissues using an allometric model. One measure of female allocation, yolk gland volume, increased more than proportionally with individual volume. This is in contrast to the measure of male allocation, testis volume, which showed a strong tendency to increase less than proportionally with individual volume. Together these patterns led to sex allocation being strongly related to individual volume, with large individuals being more biased towards female allocation. We discuss these findings in the light of current ideas about size-dependent sex allocation in, primarily, plants and try to extend them to simultaneous hermaphrodite animals.
Keywords
histology, local mate competition, local resource competition, parasite, selfing, sex allocation, simultaneous hermaphroditism, size-dependent sex allocation, stereology, time commitment hypothesis
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
25/01/2008 11:43
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:51
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