Keywords
Icteridae
mating system
phylogenetic comparative method
sexual dimorphism
Abstract
The relationship previously studied by Webster (1992) among sexual size dimorphism, mating system and body size in the icterids (Icteridae) was analyzed by using the original data, but also phylogenetically independent contrasts and a new molecular phylogeny. Sexual size dimorphism was positively related with body size as well as with harem size of the species. However, the relationship between body size and sexual dimorphism would be the result of the relationship between body size and poliginy degree and between poliginy degree and sexual dimorphism. These results agree with those found by Webster (1992).
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