Snakes typically are not considered top carnivores, yet in many ecosystems they are a major
predatory influence. A literature search confirmed that terrestrial ectotherms such as snakes …

The integration of macroevolutionary pattern with developmental mechanism presents an
outstanding challenge for studies of phenotypic evolution. Here, we use a combination of …

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is thought to evolve due to sex differences in selection on
body size, but it is largely unknown whether intraspecific variation in SSD reflects differences …

Physiological trade-offs arise because multiple processes compete for the same limiting
resources. While competition for resources has been demonstrated between reproduction …

Sexual dimorphism in phenotypic traits associated with the use of resources is a widespread
phenomenon throughout the animal kingdom. While ecological dimorphisms are often …

Both the metabolic theory of ecology and dynamic energy budget theory predict that climate
influences body size through its effects on first-order determinants of energetics: reactive …

Long-term studies of individual animals in nature contribute disproportionately to our
understanding of the principles of ecology and evolution. Such field studies can benefit …

Sex-specific plasticity, the differential response that the genome of males and females may
have to different environments, is a mechanism that can affect the degree of sexual …

Working with principles from the fields of evolutionary and developmental biology (evo-
devo), this fascinating work offers a new approach to analyzing child growth and …

Differences in resource availability and quality along environmental gradients are important
influences contributing to intraspecific variation in body size, which influences numerous life …