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Print Price: $65.95

Format:
Paperback
280 pp.
numerous halftones and figures, 189 mm x 246 mm

ISBN-13:
9780199545582

Publication date:
November 2008

Imprint: OUP UK

Sex, Size and Gender Roles

Evolutionary Studies of Sexual Size Dimorphism

Edited by Daphne J. Fairbairn, Wolf U. Blanckenhorn and Tamás Székely

Why do males and females frequently differ so markedly in body size and morphology?

Sex, Size, and Gender Roles is the first book to investigate the genetic, developmental, and physiological basis of sexual size dimorphism found within and among the major taxonomic groups of animals. Carefully edited by a team of world-renowned specialists in the field to ensure a coherence of style and approach between chapters, it presents a compendium of studies into the evolution, adaptive significance, and developmental basis of gender differences in body size and morphology. Adaptive hypotheses allude to gender-specific reproductive roles and associated differences in trophic ecologies, life history strategies, and sexual selection. This "adaptationist" approach is balanced by more mechanistic studies of the genetic, developmental and physiological basis of sexual size dimorphism to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the subject. Throughout the volume the emphasis is on sexual dimorphism in overall size; however, the scope of enquiry encompasses gender differences in body shape, the size and structure of secondary sexual characteristics, patterns of growth (ontogeny), and patterns of gene regulation.

This advanced, research level text is suitable for graduate level students and researchers in the fields of evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, physiology, developmental biology, and genetics. It will also be of relevance and use to non-biologists from fields such as anthropology and gender studies.

Readership : This advanced, research level text is suitable for graduate level students and researchers in the fields of evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology, physiology, developmental biology, and genetics. It will also be of relevance and use to non-biologists from fields such as anthropology and gender studies.

Reviews

`This book contains more than most will want to know about the evolution, development, and proximate control of phenotypic differences in the sexes. What I really like about it though, is that it makes clear that there is so much more to do. It will be the citation classic of the future for pointing the way. It is this promise and pithiness that made me admire and savor this book...'
Evolution
`The volume represents a veritable toolbox for students - molecular techniques, phylogenetic comparative methods,
and well-designed field and laboratory experiments are all generously represented. I found this to be an excellent
assemblage of contributions that will act as a guiding force in future studies of SSD.'
The Quarterly Review of Biology

1. Daphne J. Fairbairn: Introduction: the enigma of sexual size dimorphism
Section I: Macro-patterns: explaining broad-scale patterns of variation in sexual size dimorphism
2. Patrik Lindenfors, John L. Gittleman and Kate E. Jones: Sexual size dimorphism in mammals
3. Tamás Székely, Terje Lislevand and Jordi Figuerola: Sexual size dimorphism in birds
4. Robert M. Cox, Marguerite A. Butler and Henry B. John-Alder: The evolution of sexual size dimorphism in reptiles
5. Alexander Kupfer: Sexual size dimorphism in amphibians: an overview
6. Wolf U. Blanckenhorn, Rudolf Meier and Tiit Teder: Rensch's rule in insects: patterns among and within species
7. Matthias W. Foellmer and Jordi Moya-Laraño: Sexual size dimorphism in spiders: patterns and processes
Section II: Micro-patterns: case studies of patterns and evolutionary processes within and among species
8. Charles W. Fox, R. Craig Stillwell and Jordi Moya-Laraño: Variation in selection, phenotypic plasticity and the ecology of sexual size dimorphism in two seed-feeding beetles
9. Daphne J. Fairbairn: Sexual dimorphism in the water striders, <i>Aquarius remigis</i>: a case study of adaptation in response to sexually antagonistic selection
10. Wolf U. Blanckenhorn: Case studies of the differential-equilibrium hypothesis of sexual size dimorphism in two dung fly species
11. Lynda F. Delph: The genetic integration of sexually dimorphic traits in the dioecious plant, <i>Silene latifolia</i>
12. Isabella Capellini: Dimorphism in the hartebeest
13. Ellen Kalmbach and Maria M. Benito: Sexual size dimorphism and offspring vulnerability in birds
14. Evgeny S. Roitberg: Variation in sexual size dimorphism within a widespread lizard species
15. Luká%s Kratochvíl and Daniel Frynta: Phylogenetic analysis of sexual dimorphism in eye-lid geckos (Eublepharidae): the effects of male combat, courtship behaviour, egg size and body size
Section III: Proximate developmental and genetic mechanisms
16. Turk Rhen: Sex differences: genetic, physiological, and ecological mechanisms
17. Russell Bonduriansky: The genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism: the potential roles of genomic imprinting and condition dependence
18. Stéphanie Bedhomme and Adam K. Chippindale: Irreconcilable differences: when sexual dimorphism fails to resolve sexual conflict
19. Henry B. John-Alder and Robert M. Cox: Development of sexual size dimorphism in lizards: testosterone as a bipotential growth regulator
20. Vojt%ech Jaro%sík and Alois Honek: Sexual differences in insect development time in relation to sexual size dimorphism
Appendices
References
Glossary
Index

There are no Instructor/Student Resources available at this time.

Daphne J. Fairbairn is Professor of Biology at the University of California at Riverside, USA.

Wolf U. Blanckenhorn is Titularprofessor at the Zoologisches Museum, Universität Zürich, Switzerland.
Tamás Székely is Reader in Evolutionary Biology at the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, UK.

There are no related titles available at this time.

Special Features

First book to investigate the genetic, developmental and physiological basis of sexual size dimorphism found within and among major taxonomic groups
Integrates adaptive hypotheses with mechanistic studies to produce a comprehensive and authoritative overview
Inherent attractiveness of the subject matter makes this ideally suited to graduate discussion groups
Carefully edited by a team of world-renowned specialist in the field to ensure a coherence of style and approach between chapters