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A Dimensionless Invariant For Relative Size At Sex Change In Animals: Explanation And Implications, Andy Gardner, David Allsop, Eric Charnov, Stuart West May 2005

A Dimensionless Invariant For Relative Size At Sex Change In Animals: Explanation And Implications, Andy Gardner, David Allsop, Eric Charnov, Stuart West

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

Recent comparative studies across sex-changing animals have found that the relative size and age at sex change are strikingly invariant. In particular, 91%-97% of the variation in size at sex change across species can be explained by the simple rule that individuals change sex when they reach 72% of their maximum body size. However, this degree of invariance is surprising and has proved controversial. In particular, it is not clear why this result should hold, given that there is considerable biological variation across species in factors that can influence the evolutionarily stable timing of sex change. Our overall aim here …


Reproductive Effort Is Inversely Proportional To Average Adult Life Span., Eric Charnov Jan 2005

Reproductive Effort Is Inversely Proportional To Average Adult Life Span., Eric Charnov

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

Background: Forty years ago, G.C. Williams predicted that reproductive effort should be inversely related to the average adult life span across species. Aim: Use allometric life-history theory to refine that prediction. Result: Reproductive effort should be inversely proportional to average adult life span, a −1 scaling rule.


Mammal Life-History Evolution With Size-Dependent Mortality, Eric Charnov Jan 2005

Mammal Life-History Evolution With Size-Dependent Mortality, Eric Charnov

Biology Faculty & Staff Publications

Size dependence of mortality over the ontogeny is added to life-history optimization schemes for mammals