Meek Males and Fighting Females: Sexually-Dimorphic Antipredator Behavior and Locomotor Performance Is Explained by Morphology in Bark Scorpions (Centruroides vittatus)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097648
• Publication Date: 2014-05-28T20:12:22Z
• Authors: Bradley E. Carlson; Shannen McGinley; Matthew P. Rowe
• Keywords: Sexual dimorphism; Trait

Sexual dimorphism can result from sexual or ecological selective pressures, but the importance of alternative reproductive roles and trait compensation in generating phenotypic differences between sexes is poorly understood. We evaluated morphological behavioral striped bark scorpions (Centruroides vittatus). propose that have driven sexually dimorphic body mass this species which produces sex locomotor performance. Poor performance females (due to burden being gravid) favors compensatory aggression as part an defensive strategy, while male morphology coadapted support a sprinting-based strategy. tested effects on stinging sprinting characterized overall aggressiveness towards simulated threats. Greater was associated with higher sting rates slower within sexes, explained greater (the heavier sex) and, along longer legs males, improved sprint males. These findings suggest are aggressive compensate for costs reproduction males possess enhance predator evasion mate finding. metasoma ("tail") unrelated may best be by selection.