10.5061/DRYAD.N5TB2RBRX
Kavcic, Kresimir
University of Zagreb
Corlatti, Luca
University of Freiburg
Safner, Toni
University of Zagreb
Budak, Nikola
CEA Cesta
Šprem, Nikica
University of Zagreb
Contrasting patterns of sexually selected traits in Mediterranean and
continental populations of European mouflon
Dryad
dataset
2020
sexually selected traits
environmental quality
2021-01-10T00:00:00Z
2021-01-10T00:00:00Z
en
36755 bytes
2
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
The expression of sexually selected traits in highly dimorphic ungulates
may be influenced by environmental quality. Variations in habitat
conditions can impose different constraints on the allocation of energy
resources to male life-history traits, and possibly alter the female
preferences for specific features. Here, we compared the horn growth
patterns in male European mouflon Ovis aries musimon living in different
habitats (Mediterranean vs. continental) but sharing a common genetic
origin. We hypothesized that the expression of sexually selected traits
such as horn development should be promoted in more favourable habitat
conditions (i.e., Mediterranean). Using linear mixed models on data
retrieved from individuals harvested under the same hunting regime, we
found longer horns and greater individual variance in horn segment length
in the Mediterranean population than in the continental one. Furthermore,
Mediterranean rams showed no evidence of compensatory horn growth, as
opposed to the continental rams. Unexpectedly, horn base circumference was
greater in the continental habitat than in the Mediterranean one. The
overall results suggest different patterns of investment in horns in the
two populations, with seemingly stronger pressure and consequences of
sexual selection on mouflon rams living in more favourable environments.
Although the role of hunters’ selectivity cannot be excluded a priori, our
data suggest that the differences in the expression of sexually selected
traits in our study populations may be influenced by environmental
conditions. Because sexual selection can impose substantial fitness costs
on individuals, further investigations on the trade-offs between
reproduction and survival would improve our understanding of the dynamics
of mouflon populations living in different environmental conditions.