Sexual dimorphism in Bosmina: The role of morphology, drag, and swimming

• Some Bosmina water flea species develop morphological antipredatory defenses, such as long antennules and a high carapace, but in Bosmina (Eubosmina) coregoni gibbera these traits are larger and more variable in females than in males. Here we propose that this sexual dimorphism derives from differential costs of hydrodynamic drag and selection for mobility in males. We tested this hypothesis by estimating drag of several Bosmina morphologies by using scale models sinking in glycerin of different concentrations and viscosities. Body forms included males, Sexual and asexual females of B. c. gibbera, and males and asexual females of Bosmina (Eubosmina) longispina, a taxon with less variable body shape. For a given body length or body volume, male models had lower drag than models of sexual and asexual females, Suggesting that males call swim 14-28% faster with the same energy consumption. Consistent with this conclusion, video recordings showed that males of B. c. gibbera advanced 55-73% farther than females in each swimming stroke. We Conclude that hydrodynamic drag may have significant implications for swimming and evolution of sexual dimorphism in water fleas, and we suggest that males lack the defensive Structures of females of B. c. gibbera (e.g.. high carapaces) because Competition over mates favors low drag.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

bosmina coregoni gibbera

bosmina longispina

drag

hydrodynamic model

morphology

sexual dimorphism

swimming speed

zooplankton

predatory copepods

zooplankton

cladocera

leptodora

defenses

plankton

shape

size

prey

Energi och material

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)