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Graham ZA, de Jesus Florentino J, Smithers SP, Menezes JCT, de Carvalho JE, Palaoro AV. Claw coloration in the fiddler crab Leptuca uruguayensis has no correlation with male quality. Curr Zool 2025; 71:109-123. [PMID: 40051462 PMCID: PMC11884406 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoae035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2025] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection is thought to play a major role in the evolution of color due to the correlation between a signaler's physiological state and the displayed color. As such, researchers often investigate how color correlates to the quality of the signaler. However, research on the relationship between color and individual quality is often taxonomically limited and researchers typically investigate how color phenotypes relate to one index of quality, such as a linear measure of body size. Here, we investigated the relationship among body size, claw size, claw muscle mass, lipid content, and the color of the claw in male fiddler crabs (Leptuca uruguayensis) which wield an exaggerated claw that varies in color from brown to red. We hypothesized that if the color was correlated to one or more indices of male quality, the color displayed on the claws of male L. uruguayensis could be under sexual selection. We found L. uruguayensis claw color varies substantially among the individuals we photographed. However, we did not find a correlation between claw color and indices of quality; neither brightness nor hue correlated to the indices of quality we measured. Our findings suggest that claw color in L. uruguayensis is unlikely to have evolved to signal quality, but may instead function as a species identity or as a non-indicator sexual signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zackary A Graham
- Department of Organismal Biology, Ecology, and Zoo Science, West Liberty University, 208 University Drive, West Liberty, WV 26074, USA
| | - Jônatas de Jesus Florentino
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, n 321, Trav. 14, Butantã District, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Samuel P Smithers
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - João C T Menezes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, n 321, Trav. 14, Butantã District, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 230 Stockbridge Road, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - José Eduardo de Carvalho
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, n 210, Centro District, Diadema, SP 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Alexandre V Palaoro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, n 321, Trav. 14, Butantã District, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, n 210, Centro District, Diadema, SP 09972-270, Brazil
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, 515 Calhoun Dr, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Avenida Coronel Francisco H. dos Santos, n 100, Jardim das Américas District, Curitiba, PR 82590-300, Brazil
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Charlanne LM, Chaise L, Sornette D, Piot E, McCafferty DJ, Ancel A, Gilbert C. Breaking the fast: first report of dives and ingestion events in molting southern elephant seals. Commun Biol 2024; 7:64. [PMID: 38191678 PMCID: PMC10774426 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Southern elephant seals (SES) experience a 'catastrophic molt', a costly event characterized by the renewal of both hair and epidermis that requires high peripheral vascular circulation. Molting animals are therefore constrained by high metabolic heat loss and are thought to fast and remain on land. To examine the ability of individuals to balance the energetic constraints of molting on land we investigate the stomach temperature and movement patterns of molting female SES. We find that 79% of females swam and 61% ingested water or prey items, despite the cost of cold-water exposure while molting. This behavior was related to periods of warm and low wind conditions, and females that dived and ingested more often, lost less body mass. We conclude that the paradigm of fasting during the molt in this species, and the fitness consequences of this behavior should be reconsidered, especially in the context of a changing climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Charlanne
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Laureline Chaise
- Hex·Data, 847 Route de Frans, 69400, Villefranche-sur-Saône, France
| | - Damien Sornette
- Hex·Data, 847 Route de Frans, 69400, Villefranche-sur-Saône, France
| | - Erwan Piot
- CNRS UMR5536, Université de Bordeaux, 33076, Bordeaux, France
- UMR 7179, CNRS/MNHN, Laboratoire MECADEV, 1 avenue du petit château, 91400, Brunoy, France
| | - Dominic J McCafferty
- Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - André Ancel
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IPHC UMR 7178, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Caroline Gilbert
- UMR 7179, CNRS/MNHN, Laboratoire MECADEV, 1 avenue du petit château, 91400, Brunoy, France
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort, France
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