VARIABILITY AND SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM IN CARNIVORES: TESTING THE NICHE VARIATION HYPOTHESIS

摘要: The niche variation hypothesis predicts greater morphological variability in populations occupying wide ecological niches than those narrow ones. Island of carnivores are often assumed to have wider mainland populations, because the number competing species on islands is usually smaller. We compared coefficients and degrees sexual size dimorphism skulls canines pairs related insular belonging 39 carnivore species. Mainland were more variable Averaging population values for different species, we found no significant differences taxa. There was consistent difference degree between either skull length or canine diameter. hypothesize that gene flow main source populations. not supported.