Regras macroecológicas em ermitões paguroidea latreille, 1802 do Atlântico Ocidental

Abstract

Body size is one of the fundamental eco-evolutionary variables of species and populations, reflecting the life history of taxa, i.e. physiological variations and fitness traits. Two macroecological rules are strongly related to the body size of organisms: Bergmann and Rensch. Bergmann’s rule states that organisms are larger in colder regions (high latitudes). The Rensch’s rule states that sexual size dimorphism increases when males are larger. In addition to body size, body shape is a covariate in taxa. Some organisms that have their growth mediated by shelter, hermit crabs, for example, have a mandatory metabiosis relationship with gastropod shells, making them excellent models for assessing macroecological and evolutionary patterns in the face of these constraints. Using body size data (literature and in situ), regression models were designed to evaluate the rules separately and jointly and also the types of used shelters. In addition to size, shape abstraction was used in investigations in situ data (sexual dimorphism). The three species of Clibanarius showed interpopulation clines consistent with Bergmann's rule. Monomorphisms of sexual size and shape for Clibanarius were detected among populations. In Rensch's rule, only C. antillensis revealed an inverse pattern. In our assessment of gender-specific divergence in response to latitudinal gradients, latitude increased the interpopulation body effect only in females. It is suggested that desiccation, temperature, energy expenditure different from growth, reproduction and life history tactics may influence the bias of these rules. The variation in body size in females is modulated by fecundity selection and plasticity in body size. Our data also suggest that natural selection is stronger on the species of Clibanarius, where restrictive forces act through each sexual fitness.