Latitudinal clines in sexual selection, sexual size dimorphism, and sex-specific genetic dispersal during a poleward range expansion

Rachael Dudaniec*, Alexander R. Carey, Erik I. Svensson, Bengt Hansson, Chuan Ji Yong, Lesley T. Lancaster

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    20 Citations (Scopus)
    47 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    1. Range expansions can be shaped by sex differences in behaviours and other phenotypic traits affecting dispersal and reproduction.

    2. Here, we investigate sex differences in morphology, behaviour and genomic population differentiation along a climate‐mediated range expansion in the common bluetail damselfly (Ischnura elegans) in northern Europe.

    3. We sampled 65 sites along a 583 km gradient spanning the I. elegans range in Sweden and quantified latitudinal gradients in site relative abundance, sex ratio and sex‐specific shifts in body size and mating status (a measure of sexual selection). Using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 426 individuals from 25 sites, we further investigated sex‐specific landscape and climatic effects on neutral genetic connectivity and migration patterns.

    4. We found evidence for sex differences associated with the I. elegans range expansion, namely (1) increased male body size with latitude, but no latitudinal effect on female body size, resulting in reduced sexual dimorphism towards the range limit, (2) a steeper decline in male genetic similarity with increasing geographic distance than in females, (3) male‐biased genetic migration propensity, and (4) a latitudinal cline in migration distance (increasing migratory distances towards the range margin), which was stronger in males. Cooler mean annual temperatures towards the range limit were associated with increased resistance to gene flow in both sexes. Sex ratios became increasingly male‐biased towards the range limit, and there was evidence for a changed sexual selection regime shifting from favouring larger males in the south, to favouring smaller males in the north.

    5. Our findings suggest sex‐specific spatial phenotype sorting at the range limit, where larger males disperse more under higher landscape resistance associated with cooler climates. The combination of latitudinal gradients in sex‐biased dispersal, increasing male body size, and (reduced) sexual size dimorphism should have emergent consequences for sexual selection dynamics and the mating system at the expanding range front. Our study illustrates the importance of considering sex differences in the study of range expansions driven by ongoing climate change.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1104-1118
    Number of pages15
    JournalJournal of Animal Ecology
    Volume91
    Issue number6
    Early online date23 Mar 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

    Keywords

    • climate change
    • insect
    • Ischnura elegans
    • landscape genetics
    • range expansion
    • sexual selection
    • sexual size dimorphism
    • temperature

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