Size- assortative mating and effect of maternal body size on the reproductive output of Buccinanops globulosus

AVACA, M.S.; NARVARTE, M.A.; MARTÍN, P.R.

JOURNAL OF SEA RESEARCH

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2012 vol. 69 p. 16 - 22

1385-1101

Size- assortative mating is usually present in populations where there is a positive relationship between female size and reproductive output. In this study,we tested for the presence of sexual size dimorphism, size-assortative mating and the effects of female size on reproductive output in a wild population of Buccinanops globulosus, an endemic nassariid of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean with direct development. The results showed that: 1) females were larger than males, indicating sexual size dimorphism; 2) mate sizes were significantly correlated, indicating a component of size-assortative mating; 3) males of medium and large size classes were paired with larger females than small-sized males; 4) larger females were paired with large males; 5) maternal body size was positively related to some proxies of reproductive success (number of nurse eggs per egg capsule, egg capsular area and total length at hatching).Our results suggest that larger femalesmay be favored asmates over smaller ones owing to their higher investment per offspring and consequently a larger initial juvenile size as juvenile.Buccinanops globulosus, an endemic nassariid of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean with direct development. The results showed that: 1) females were larger than males, indicating sexual size dimorphism; 2) mate sizes were significantly correlated, indicating a component of size-assortative mating; 3) males of medium and large size classes were paired with larger females than small-sized males; 4) larger females were paired with large males; 5) maternal body size was positively related to some proxies of reproductive success (number of nurse eggs per egg capsule, egg capsular area and total length at hatching).Our results suggest that larger femalesmay be favored asmates over smaller ones owing to their higher investment per offspring and consequently a larger initial juvenile size as juvenile.ficantly correlated, indicating a component of size-assortative mating; 3) males of medium and large size classes were paired with larger females than small-sized males; 4) larger females were paired with large males; 5) maternal body size was positively related to some proxies of reproductive success (number of nurse eggs per egg capsule, egg capsular area and total length at hatching).Our results suggest that larger femalesmay be favored asmates over smaller ones owing to their higher investment per offspring and consequently a larger initial juvenile size as juvenile.