Zoological and Entomological Letters
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P-ISSN: 2788-8428, E-ISSN: 2788-8436

2022, Vol. 2, Issue 1, Part A


Does sexual size dimorphism vary with time in red millipedes Centrobolus Cook, 1897?


Author(s): Mark Cooper

Abstract: Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) variation with time was studied in red millipedes. Time (1964.7±29.4 years) was correlated with SSD in volumes in the red millipede genus Centrobolus. There was an marginal absolute difference (T=1.271239, n=2, 5, p=0.071465) but not a relative difference (T=0.914933, d.f.=5, p=0.201098) between mean log SSD1+2 (0.065050 mm3) and mean log SSD3 (0.156442 mm3). This converted back into an absolute difference of 8.35 µm3 in mean volume. Neither an inverse Rensch's rule nor Rensch's rule pattern could be confirmed from log SSD with body size (r=0.25608594, Z score=0.69296229, n=10, p=0.24416654). Systematic variation of SSD with time was shown in two examples in Centrobolus with higher SSD in more recent times being faster in the smaller C. digrammus (58% more female-biased after 32 years) and slower in the larger C. ruber (25% more female-biased after 60 years). There was a relative difference in size between C. digrammus and C. ruber compared to recent measurements of four species (T-score=6.242725, d.f.=4, p=0.002). C. digrammus and C. ruber were relatively larger sizes after the time (T-score=3.858367, d.f.=2, p=0.030541).

Pages: 30-35 | Views: 832 | Downloads: 337

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How to cite this article:
Mark Cooper. Does sexual size dimorphism vary with time in red millipedes Centrobolus Cook, 1897?. Zool Entomol Lett 2022;2(1):30-35.

Zoological and Entomological Letters