Le processus de sélection intersexuelle peut impliquer plusieurs mécanismes différents dans le choix du partenaire. Chez la pyrale Achroia grisella, les femelles choisissent les mâles en se basant sur des caractères de leur chant d'avertissement ultrasonique, et de précédentes études ont montré que ce choix peut procurer, à une femelle discriminante, certains bénéfices génétiques indirects. Dans cette thèse, j'ai continué à explorer le mécanisme de bénéfices indirects chez cette espèce en 1) déterminant avec plus de précision un paramètre acoustique, l‟amplitude du chant, qui influence le choix des femelles et en 2) examinant la covariance génétique entre les traits du chant mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle. J'ai constaté qu'en plus de préférer des chants mâles émis avec une plus grande amplitude et une plus grande puissance acoustique, les femelles font également une discrimination en faveur des chants comprenant des forts « pics d'amplitude ». Cependant, mes analyses génétiques moléculaires de la relation entre les traits du signal mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle, n'ont révélé aucune covariance significative, comme prédit par la théorie de la sélection sexuelle. Ces derniers résultats fournissent un aperçu important concernant l‟existence d‟un tempo réduit de la sélection sexuelle, dans les populations naturelles. / The process of inter-sexual selection may involve several different mechanisms of mate choice. In the pyralid moth Achroia grisella, females choose males based on characters of their ultrasonic advertisement song, and previous work has indicated that such choice may afford a discriminating female certain indirect genetic benefits. In this thesis I continued to probe the indirect benefits mechanism in this species by 1) determining with more precision one acoustic character, song amplitude, that influences female choice and by 2) examining the genetic covariance between the male song trait and the female preference trait. I found that in addition to preferring male songs delivered at greater amplitude and with greater acoustic power, females also discriminate in favor of songs including higher 'amplitude peaks'. However, my molecular genetic analyses of the relationships between the male signal and female preference traits did not reveal any significant covariance, as predicted by sexual selection theory. These latter findings provide important insight on the reduced tempo of sexual selection that may exist in natural populations.

Chez les insectes où les males chantent en chorus, l’interférence locale de signaux impose des contraintes majeures à des femelles qui doivent évaluer les mâles individuellement. Les mâles subis des difficultés pour évaluer la compétitivité de leurs voisins et pour montrer clairement aux femelles les caractéristiques de leurs propres chants. J’ai analysé différents aspects de cette problématique chez deux espèces acoustiques : chez la sauterelle ephippiger et une pyrale nocturne qui émettent leurs signaux au sein de regroupements. Nos expériences ont mis en évidence certains mécanismes comportementaux permettant aux femelles de localiser les meuliers males et d’autres permettant aux mâles de se communiquer efficacement et percevoir leur environnement acoustique. / In acoustic insects where males sing in choruses, local signal interference may present major difficulties for females evaluating and individual males. Males too may be prevented from assessing the competitivity of their neighbors as well as from advertising the characteristics of their own signals to females in a clear manner. Moreover, the background noise from local signals may prevent both sexes from perceiving other sounds in the environment, e.g. predator cues. I studied these problems at several levels in two acoustic insect species: in which males broadcast their advertisement songs while remaining in dense clusters. The experiments revealed behavioral mechanisms with which females can identify favored males and others with which males can communicate effectively.

[pt] Diversos fatores são considerados no julgamento da atratividade de possíveis parceiros amorosos. Esses fatores abrangem características físicas, traços psicológicos, status social e demonstração de recursos. Homens que ostentam posse de recursos são considerados mais atraentes por mulheres que preferem relacionamentos de longo prazo. Pesquisas recentes vêm mostrando que o consumo conspícuo pode ter importante papel como critério de atratividade. Por outro lado, o consumo conspícuo parece aumentar a atratividade dos homens perante mulheres interessadas em relações de curto prazo. Desse modo, o primeiro capítulo consiste numa revisão de literatura sobre recursos como sinais de atratividade em relacionamentos de longo prazo. O segundo capítulo consiste numa análise dos resultados de quatro experimentos que tiveram como objetivo investigar a influência do consumo conspícuo como critério de atratividade de mulheres interessadas em relacionamentos de curto prazo. O segundo objetivo desse estudo foi verificar se o consumo conspícuo influenciaria a atratividade de indivíduos não-heterossexuais em relacionamentos de curto prazo. Os resultados não mostraram influência do consumo conspícuo sobre a atratividade, independente da orientação sexual. Surpreendentemente, alguns resultados sugeriram que as mulheres acharam mais atraentes os indivíduos na condição sem consumo conspícuo. Isso pode ter ocorrido devido a um viés amostral. A maioria dos participantes tinha alto grau educacional, o que pode estar associado maior preferência por relacionamentos de longo prazo. O objeto usado como consumo conspícuo (carro popular e carro luxuoso) pode, ainda, não ser de especial interesse dessa amostra com alto grau de escolaridade. / [en] Several factors are essential in judging the attractions of your mating partners. These encompassing physical factors, psychological traits, social status and demonstration of resources/wealth. Men who possess resources are considered more attractive by women who prefer long-term relationships. Recent research showing conspicuous consumption may play an important role as a criterion of attractiveness. On the other hand, conspicuous consumption seems to increase the attractiveness of men to women interested in short-term relationships. Thus, the first chapter consists of a literature review of resources as signs of attractiveness in long-term relationships. The second method is an analysis of the results of four experiments that attempt to corroborate an influence of conspicuous consumption as a criterion of attractiveness of women interested in short-term relationships. Considering the scarcity of studies with non-heterosexual participants, the second objective of this study was to verify if conspicuous consumption would influence the attractiveness of non-heterosexual individuals in short-term relationships. The results did not showed influence of conspicuous consumption on attractiveness, regardless of sexual orientation. Surprisingly, some results suggested that women found individuals more attractive in the condition without conspicuous consumption. This may have occurred due to sample bias. Most participants had a high educational level, which may be associated with higher preference for long-term relationships. The object used as conspicuous consumption (popular car and luxury car) may still not be of special interest to the sample with a high degree of schooling.

Submitted by Fabio Henrique Carretero Sanches (fabiohcsanches@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-08-14T22:13:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese de Doutorado Autoarquivamento - Fabio Sanches.docx: 685079 bytes, checksum: cd5ecced2f7a2083db18a2d02d08fe52 (MD5) / Rejected by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo as orientações abaixo: A versão final da dissertação/tese deve ser submetida no formato PDF (Portable Document Format). O arquivo PDF não deve estar protegido e a dissertação/tese deve estar em um único arquivo, inclusive os apêndices e anexos, se houver. Por favor, corrija o formato do arquivo e realize uma nova submissão. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2017-08-25T19:31:18Z (GMT) / Submitted by Fabio Henrique Carretero Sanches (fabiohcsanches@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-08-31T19:03:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese de Doutorado Autoarquivamento - Fabio Sanches.pdf: 1162414 bytes, checksum: c1e3b3606924d406d77ac6623c77d329 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-08-31T19:31:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 sanches_fhc_dr_bot.pdf: 1162414 bytes, checksum: c1e3b3606924d406d77ac6623c77d329 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-31T19:31:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 sanches_fhc_dr_bot.pdf: 1162414 bytes, checksum: c1e3b3606924d406d77ac6623c77d329 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-23 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os caranguejos-chama-maré são espécies semiterrestres, sociais, que habitam margens de praias abertas, manguezais e marismas, tanto em zonas tropicais como temperadas. Cada indivíduo concentra suas atividades em torno de uma toca, com as fêmeas possuindo os dois quelípodo de mesmo tamanho, enquanto os machos possuem um dos quelípodo hipertrofiado, usados como armas durante interações agressivas para proteção do território ou durante a corte em um movimento característico de display, sendo excelentes modelos para estudos de competição e seleção sexual. Além disso, a escavação do solo para construção de suas tocas acarreta na maior oxigenação do mesmo, altera as condições de drenagem, distribuição de partículas, disponibilidade de matérias orgânicas e nutrientes, sendo assim considerados engenheiros do ecossistema. Portanto, alterações nos manguezais que influenciam na distribuição desse grupo de caranguejos podem intensificar potenciais impactos nessas regiões. A presente tese de doutorado foi dividida em três capítulos. O estudo do capítulo 1 foi realizado em manguezais do litoral centro/sul do Estado de São Paulo, onde investigamos o efeito do sombreamento na distribuição espacial, comportamento e fisiologia de duas espécies de caranguejos-chama-marés: Leptuca leptodactyla e Leptuca urugayensis. Já o estudo do capítulo 2 foi concretizado durante período de doutorado sanduíche no exterior, realizado na Austrália. Nele, examinamos o efeito da migração de espécies de áreas adjacentes (Tubuca elegans e Tubuca signata), relacionados à elevação do nível do mar, sobre o comportamento social e reprodutivo de outra espécie desse grupo de caranguejos, Austruca mjoebergi. Ainda durante o período de doutorado sanduíche, realizei o estudo do capítulo 3 com ênfase em seleção sexual de caranguejos-chama-maré (Austruca mjoebergi), mais relacionado à linha de pesquisa da minha orientadora no exterior, onde examinamos a precisão e o tempo de escolha das fêmeas em relação à velocidade, quantidade e complexidade dos displays dos machos. / Fiddler crabs are semi-terrestrial and social species that inhabit open beaches margin, mangroves and salt marshes, both in tropical and temperate zones. Each individual concentrates its activities in their territory surrounding a burrow, with females possessing both chelipodes of the same size, while males have one of them hypertrophied, used as weapons during aggressive interactions to protect the territory or during waving displays to attract females, being excellent models for studies of competition and sexual selection. In addition, the excavation of the soil for the construction of its burrows leads to increased oxygenation, changes in drainage conditions, particle distribution, availability of organic matter and nutrients, being considered thus ecosystem engineers. Therefore, alterations in mangroves that influence the distribution of this group of crabs may intensify potential impacts into these regions. The present PhD thesis was divided into three chapters. The study of chapter 1 was carried out in mangroves of the central / southern coast of the state of São Paulo, where we investigated the shading effect on the spatial distribution, behavior and physiology of two species of fiddler crabs: Leptuca leptodactyla and Leptuca urugayensis. The study of chapter 2 was made during a doctorate period sandwich abroad, held in Australia. We examined the effect of the migration of species of adjacent areas (Tubuca elegans and Tubuca signata), related to the elevation of sea level, on the social and reproductive behavior of another species of this group of crabs, Austruca mjoebergi. Also during the sandwich doctorate period, I conducted the study of chapter 3 with an emphasis on sexual selection of Austruca mjoebergi, more related to the research line of my supervisor abroad, where we examined the accuracy and the time of females in relation to the speed, quantity and complexity of male’s displays. / CNPq: 140515/2014-3

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JorgeBI.pdf: 1097245 bytes, checksum: c841c05107380380ead3a9c8500eb87f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-19 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / In this thesis I discuss the reproductive behaviour and ecology of the libellulid Diastatops obscura Fabricius, 1775, (Insecta: Odonata) in natural conditions. Populations of this species were studied on the middle stretch of the Pitimbu River, Parnamirim municipality, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, during four discontinuous periods between 2002 and 2004. The objectives include the description of strategies and behaviors of both sexes, with especial interest in the intra-male competition for territories and females, the mate selection by females and the importance of male body size and other secondary characters on their reproductive success; from an adaptationist point of view. It was observed that the behavior of males and females in the reproductive areas are interrelated : the males came earlier to compete for the best territories and the females waited the result of that competition to be fertilized by dominants males, which preferably occupied areas near the river margin. The reproductive success of males with territories on the margin, estimated by number of copulations, ovipositions and days acting as territorial, was better than obtained by more separated territorial males and by satellite males. The body size of males is an important factor for the copulation and oviposition taxes and for the number of territorial days, favoring the biggest individuals. I also discuss the apparently importance of wing brilliance and wing integrity on male reproductive success. On inter-sexual relationships, I proved that females of D. obscura participate in mate selection, rejecting non-territorial males or substituting their sperm for other of higher status / Nesta tese discutem-se os aspectos ecol?gicos e comportamentais relativos ? reprodu??o do libelul?deo Diastatops obscura Fabricius, 1775, (Insecta: Odonata), em ambiente natural. Foram estudadas popula??es dessa esp?cie no trecho m?dio do rio Pitimbu, no munic?pio de Parnamirim, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, durante quatro per?odos descont?nuos entre os anos 2002 e 2004. Entre os objetivos encontram-se a descri??o e compreens?o das estrat?gias e comportamentos reprodutivos de ambos os sexos, com especial ?nfase na competi??o entre os machos pelo acesso aos territ?rios reprodutivos e ?s f?meas, a escolha de parceiro pelas f?meas e a implica??o do tamanho e de outros caracteres secund?rios dos machos no seu sucesso reprodutivo; tudo desde um ponto de vista adaptacionista. Foi observado que os comportamentos de machos e f?meas nas ?reas reprodutivas est?o inter-relacionados: os machos chegam antes para competir pelos melhores territ?rios e as f?meas aguardam o resultado dessa competi??o para serem fertilizadas pelos machos dominantes, que ocupam os territ?rios na margem do rio. O sucesso reprodutivo dos machos que mant?m territ?rios na margem, estimado a partir do n?mero de c?pulas e ovoposi??es conseguidas pelas suas parceiras, comprovou-se maior do que aquele dos machos defendendo territ?rios mais afastados ou dos machos sat?lites. O tamanho corporal dos machos mostrou-se um fator importante na taxa de c?pulas e ovoposi??es conseguidas, e no n?mero de dias atuando como territorial, favorecendo em todos os casos os indiv?duos maiores. Discute-se, tamb?m, a aparente import?ncia no sucesso reprodutivo do grau de brilho nas asas dos machos e da preserva??o da integridade das mesmas ao longo do tempo. Sobre as rela??es intersexuais, comprovamos que as f?meas maduras participam da escolha de parceiro, rejeitando machos n?o territoriais ou substituindo seu esperma pelo procedente de machos de mais alta hierarquia

Nos estudos sobre a teoria da Seleção Sexual, as libélulas têm sido amplamente estudadas devido à grande variedade de padrões comportamentais, de coloração e táticas reprodutivas. Como forma de demonstrar táticas reprodutivas adotadas por duas espécies de libélulas, esta dissertação teve como objetivos principais: i) investigar o papel de traços secundários como a coloração corporal na competição intra-sexual de uma espécie territorial e ii) analisar se os traços corporais como tamanho e morfologia das asas predizem a tática de acasalamento adotada por machos de uma espécie nãoterritorial. Sugere-se que a coloração corporal pode predizer o resultado de lutas e também se correlacionar positivamente com a condição física dos machos territoriais de Tigriagrion aurantinigrum. Ademais, traços corporais como o tamanho e a morfologia das asas influenciam na tática reprodutiva utilizada por machos não-territoriais de Epipleoneura williamsoni. Portanto, com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a variação nos sinais visuais exerce um papel essencial na comunicação animal e na resolução de conflitos, indicando ainda que pode haver uma sinalização da condição física dos machos. Além disso, os resultados mostraram evidências em como diferentes táticas reprodutivas se relacionam com traços corporais como agilidade e tamanho corporal, os quais podem influenciar no sucesso reprodutivo dos indivíduos. / In studies concerning Sexual Selection theory, dragonflies and damselflies have been well studied due to their wide range of behavioral, color and reproductive tactics patterns. To demonstrate reproductive tactics adopted by two damselfly species, this study aimed to: i) investigate the role of secondary traits such as body coloration in intrasexual competition of a territorial species and ii) analyze if body traits such as size and wing morphology predicts the adopted tactic by non-territorial males. It is suggested that body coloration can predict the fight outcome and also positively correlates with males physical condition in territorial males of Tigriagrion aurantinigrum and body traits such as body size and wing morphology influence the reproductive tactic adopted by non-territorial males of Epipleoneura williamsoni. Therefore, with these results, it is concluded that the visual signalling variation plays an important role on the animal comunication and conflict resolution, which also may indicate that there is a signalling on the males physical condition. Furthermore, the results showed evidence in how different reproductive tactics are related to body traits such as agility and size, which can influence on individuals reproductive success.

O comportamento animal associado a características morfológicas fornece evidências para um melhor entendimento de como o comportamento sexual tem evoluído, e como os organismos podem maximizar seu sucesso reprodutivo. Fatores como tamanho, reservas de energia e outros caracteres sexuais como a coloração são essenciais para o melhor desempenho em relação a outros indivíduos da mesma espécie. Estes podem transmitir informação da qualidade do macho para outros machos co-específicos como também para às fêmeas. Esta qualidade, guarda relação com a condição física (reservas de energia) que possuem, e é necessária para ter sucesso na reprodução. Sendo a reprodução uma das mais custosas em términos energéticos em comparação a outras atividades, é de se esperar que os animais invistam a maioria das reservas no comportamento reprodutivo, o qual influencia no tipo de estratégia que eles adotam e à duração em tempo das interações relacionadas a reprodução, entre outras. Portanto indivíduos com características melhor desenvolvidas ou com boa condição física, terão uma vantagem na reprodução que os outros indivíduos da comunidade. Zenithoptera lanei é uma espécie neotropical presente no Brasil, da qual se tem poucos estudos sobre sua ecologia comportamental, sendo uns dos mais importante o realizado por Guillermo-Ferreira no 2015, para descrever as estruturas que conformam esta pruinosidade e sua função na comunicação intraespecífica. Neste estudo, descrevemos o comportamento sexual de Z. lanei (Libellulidae), com a hipótese que nesta espécie apresentam machos territoriais, e que a coloração de suas asas, o tamanho corporal e a reserva de energia (gordura) devem desempenham um papel importante na condição territorial. Assim, os machos com maior quantidade de energia e maior tamanho deveriam ganhar disputas, defender territórios e, portanto, manter a condição territorial. Além, avaliamos também se essa condição de territorialidade poderia influenciar o tempo de duração das cópulas e a oviposição pelas fêmeas. Os resultados mostraram que machos são territoriais, e esta territorialidade está relacionada com a condição física e tamanho. Sendo que, machos com maior tamanho corporal e maior quantidade de reservas de energia ganharam mais disputas e mantiveram um território. Apesar dos machos serem territoriais, não houve diferença entre a duração do tempo das interações reprodutivas para machos vencedores em comparação aos machos perdedores, indicando que o tempo de duração das interações reprodutivas não são influenciadas pela condição de territorialidade do macho. / Animal behavior associated with morphological characteristics supplies evidence for a better understanding of how sexual behavior has evolved, and how organisms can maximize their reproductive success. Factors such as size, fat reserves and other sexual characters such as coloration are essential to individual better performance in relation to conspecifics. These factors? Can bring information of the male quality to other conspecifics and females. This quality keeps relation with the physical condition (energy reserves) that they have which is required to succeed in breeding, as reproduction is one of the most expensive activity in energy cost in relation to other activities. The reproductive behavior is related to the individual fat reserves that influences, among other factors, in the condition that they adopt and to the duration in time of the related interactions to reproduction. Therefore, individuals with more developed characteristics or with better physical conditions will have an advantage in the reproduction comparing with other individuals of the community. The dragonfly Zenithoptera lanei is a Neotropical species present in Brazil, only studied so far by Guillermo-Ferreira in 2015, when structures that conform this pruinosity and his function in the intraspecific communication were described. In this study, describe the sexual behavior of Z. lanei (Libellulidae). Was hypothesized that in this species males present territorial behavior, and that the coloration of wings, body size and the energy reserves (fat) may play an important role in territorial condition and reproductive success. Thus, males with higher quantity of energy and larger size should win more disputes, defend territories and, therefore, maintain the territorial condition. In addition, was also assessed whether this condition of territoriality may influence the duration of the copulation and oviposition by females. The results showed that males are territorial, and its territoriality keeps relation with size and the physical condition. In other words, males with larger body and higher energy reserves have won more disputes and maintained a territory. Although males were territorial, there was no difference between the duration of reproductive interactions, winning males and losers, thus indicating that the reproductive interactions are not influenced by the condition of territoriality of the male.

Orientador: Woodruff Whitman Benson / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T03:31:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carvalho_MarcioRomeroMarques_M.pdf: 919432 bytes, checksum: 1f0c159d8e11e0b88a3a120ac6ec0675 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Os machos de várias espécies de borboletas defendem territórios de acasalamentos contra rivais da mesma espécie por meio de intensas perseguições em espirais. Tais perseguições raramente apresentam contato físico, tornando incerto como residentes obtêm vantagem territorial. No sudeste do Brasil os machos da borboleta aposemática Actinote pellenea (Nymphalidae), entretanto, defendem territórios agarrando rivais em vôo e caindo no solo em combate, indicando neste caso uma função da força física. Eu observei machos marcados de A. pellenea nos territórios com o objetivo de descrever as disputas em relação à natureza dos comportamentos, horário de ocorrência, e seus resultados. Analisei se injúrias físicas ocorreram e quais características dos machos, tais como tamanho, massa corporal, e desgaste alar (idade) poderiam relacionar-se com vitória em disputas. Avaliei o sucesso reprodutivo de machos donos de territórios (residentes) e machos sem territórios (intrusos) com base no número de cópulas realizadas por cada grupo. Realizei um experimento para analisar se a condição residente confere aos machos vantagem em vencer disputas, para isto, organizei disputas entre machos residentes previamente presos contra substitutos (intrusos) que naturalmente estabeleceram-se sobre o território vago (durante no mínimo 15 minutos). Os machos de A. pellenea começaram a defender territórios por volta das 9 h e permaneceram até aproximadamente 15:30 h. A maioria das disputas foram perseguições sem espirais (n=435; 84,3%), porém em muitas houve contatos físicos em que os rivais agarraram-se e soltaram-se no ar (n=25; 4,8%), e em que o rivais caíram no chão e lutaram (n=56; 10,8%). Danos nas asas foram arranhões com as garras, perda de escamas e em um caso perda de pedaços das asas. Os machos residentes (n=6) obtiveram mais acasalamentos do que os machos intrusos (n=2). Residentes venceram todas as disputas naturais contra intrusos, e não houve diferença de tamanho, peso ou desgaste alar de vencedores e perdedores de disputas. No experimento, residentes originais venceram 7 das 8 disputas contra residentes substitutos (intrusos). O consistente sucesso de residentes estabelecidos em territórios, até mesmo contra substitutos que aparecem durante breves ausências, sugerem que outros fatores motivacionais ou traços físicos não representados em nossas medidas são provavelmente responsáveis pelo sucesso deles em manter territórios / Abstract: The males of many butterfly species defend mating territories against conspecific rivals through intense spiraling chases. Such chases have practically no physical contact, making it unclear how residents obtain their territorial advantage. In southeastern of Brazil males of the aposematic butterfly Actinote pellenea (Nymphalidae), however, defend by seizing rivals in flight and dropping to the ground in combat, suggesting in this case a role for physical strength. I observed marked A. pellenea males at territory sites with the objective of describing contests regarding nature of contests, hours of occurrence, and their outcomes. I analyzed if physical injuries occurred and which traits such as size, body mass and wing wear (age) could relate to win contests. I evaluated the reproductive success of owner territories males (residents) and without territories males (intruders) based on number of the matings performed by each group. I realized an experiment to analyze if resident status gives to males advantage to win contests, for this, I arranged contests between resident males previously imprisoned against substitutes (intruders) that naturally settled over vacant territory (for at least 15 minutes). The males of A. pellenea began to defend territories arround for 9 h and stayed until nearly 15:30 h. The most contests were non-spiral chases (n=435; 84,3%), however in several had physical contact that rivals seized and release in the air (n=25; 4,8%), and that rivals fell on the ground and fought (n=56; 10,8%). Wings injuries were claw punctures, scales loss and one case pieces wings loss. The residents males (n=6) had more matings than intruders males (n=2). Residents won all natural contests against intruders, but there was no difference in size, body mass and wing wear between winners and losers of contests. In experiment original residents won 7 of 8 contests against substitutes residents (intruders). The consistent success of established territory residents, even against substitutes appearing during brief absences, suggests that either motivational factors or physical traits not represented in our measurements are likely responsible for their success in holding territories / Mestrado / Ecologia / Mestre em Ecologia

Si la sélection sexuelle proposée par Darwin fournit un cadre théorique satisfaisant pour expliquer l'évolution et le maintien des ornements sexuellement dimorphiques, le cas de l'ornementation mutuelle requiert l'emploi du cadre plus large offert par la sélection sociale. Dans de nombreux cas en effet, l'explication du maintien de l'ornementation mutuelle nécessite de considérer non seulement la compétition pour l'accès au partenaire de reproduction, mais également la compétition pour l'accès à d'autres types de ressources telles que la nourriture ou les emplacements pour nicher. Cependant, le maintien de l'ornementation mutuelle n'est encore que partiellement compris chez les oiseaux marins. Les travaux réalisés au cours de cette thèse s'inscrivent dans la continuité des recherches initiées depuis quelques années dans le but de comprendre le maintien de l'ornementation mutuelle chez le manchot royal, un oiseau exprimant un patch orange présentant un pic de réflectance ultraviolet de chaque côté de la mandibule, des patches auriculaires jaunes de chaque côté de la tête et un patch formant un dégradé allant du marron au jaune pâle sur le poitrail. Les travaux présentés dans ce manuscrit de thèse portent (i) sur les combats entre individus du même sexe pour accéder à un partenaire de reproduction, (ii) sur le rôle des ornements colorés dans le processus d'appariement, (iii) sur l'association entre le degré de développement des ornements et la position du territoire occupé au sein de la colonie, et enfin (iv) sur l'existence de variations interannuelles concernant le degré de coloration des ornements et le processus de choix de partenaire. Les résultats révèlent que : (i) les affrontements pour l'accès au partenaire sont beaucoup plus fréquents chez les mâles que chez les femelles ; (ii) l'ornementation mutuelle du bec pourrait être maintenu pas le processus de choix mutuel ; (iii) les individus occupant les territoires les plus centraux de la colonie expriment des patches auriculaires plus large et un patch de poitrine plus coloré ; (iv) les ornements présentent des variations notables entre deux années, tout comme le processus de choix de partenaire. Pris dans leur ensemble, ces résultats révèlent que le maintien de l'ornementation mutuelle du manchot royal est multifactoriel, et des pistes de recherches sont proposées pour affiner notre compréhension de ce phénomène complexe. / Darwin devised sexual selection theory in order to explain the evolution and maintenance of secondary sexual traits. In mutually ornamented species, however, the broader theoretical framework of social selection is needed. In many cases indeed, understanding the maintenance of mutual ornamentation requires to take into account competition for both sexual (i.e. mates) and non-sexual resources (e.g. food, nest sites). How mutual ornaments maintain and evolve is actually not well understood in seabirds species. The aim of the research program within which this Ph.D. thesis took place was to understand the maintenance of mutual ornamentation in king penguin, a bird exhibiting a ultraviolet and orange beak spot on each side of the mandible, two yellow auricular patches, and a patch on the breast that grade from brown to bright yellow. We studied (i) same-sex fight over mates; (ii) mate choice for color ornaments; (iii) the relationships between conspicuousness of ornaments and position of the territory within the colony; and finally (iv) the existence of inter-annual variations in color ornaments expression and mate choice process. Our results show that: (i) same-sex fights over mates are highly male-biased; (ii) color of the beak spots may be involved in mutual mate choice; (iii) central individuals exhibit larger auricular patches and more colorful breast patch; (iv) ornament conspicuousness as well as mate choice show inter-annual changes. Taken together, these results reveal that maintenance of king penguin mutual ornaments is multifactorial, and some research avenues are suggested for future researches.

Abstract genital characteristics have peculiar morphological patterns. They show great divergence between species. At the same time, they are assumed to vary little within species by taxonomists who frequently use genital features to delimit species. I studied moth (Lepidoptera) genital size and shape variation within and between species. I also tested hypotheses proposed to explain rapid genital diversification among species. Studies were carried out using traditional distance measurement morphometrics and modern geometric morphometrics. Several moth species were analyzed. d that genital structures show variation that in closely related species may show structural overlap. More surprisingly, the amount of variation in internal genitalia was equal to non-genital traits. These and some other findings are against the predictions of the lock-and-key hypothesis, which suggests that genital differences form a mechanical isolation system between species. Meanwhile, the findings are in good accordance with the various mechanisms of the sexual selection hypothesis. I found that external genital traits express varying amounts of variability. However, both external and internal genitalia consistently show small variation in size so that large individuals have disproportionately small genitalia and vice versa. This finding is consistent with the lock-and-key theory, but also with the cryptic female choice hypothesis. In conclusion, the results suggest that sexual selection plays a major role in genital diversification, but the exact mechanism remained unclear in this study. Some structures in moth genitalia strongly suggest that sexual conflict is present as well. It is possible that several mechanisms of sexual selection are in action simultaneously. dings have implications to insect taxonomy. Genital characters, although often useful, should not be considered superior to other characters because they may vary considerably within species. I have shown that subjective visual evaluation of genital characteristics and a priori assumption of their low variability may easily lead to unsound taxonomic conclusions. Sophisticated morphometric tools are very useful and objective in delimiting sibling species. Geometric morphometrics is particularly useful since it helps to evaluate limits of variation. There are, however, no theoretical grounds to assume that genitalia are not subject to intraspecific geographic variation. Such variation was detected in this study as well. Geographic relationships should therefore be taken into consideration more frequently when delimiting populations into different species.