Rensch's rule

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Rensch's rule is an allometric law concerning the relationship between the extent of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) and which sex is larger. Across species within a lineage, size dimorphism will increase with increasing body size when the male is the larger sex, and decrease with increasing average body size when the female is the larger sex.

Examples of phylogenetic lineages that appear to follow this rule include primates, pinnipeds, and artiodactyls.[1]

It was proposed by Bernhard Rensch in 1950.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Fairbairn, D.J. (1997). "Allometry for Sexual Size Dimorphism: Pattern and Process in the Coevolution of Body Size in Males and Females". Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 28 (1): 659–687. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.28.1.659. 
  2. ↑ Rensch, B. (1950). Die Abhangigkeit der relativen Sexualdifferenz von der Korpergrosse. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage 1:58-69.
Biological rules
  • Allen's rule (Populations have shorter appendages in colder climates)
  • Bergmann's rule (Populations have larger bodies in colder climates)
  • Cope's rule (Organisms within a population get larger over time)
  • Foster's rule (Tendency of deep-sea dwelling species to attain larger size than relatives in shallower waters)
  • Gloger's rule (Populations have lighter colouration in colder, drier climates)
  • Rensch's rule (Size dimorphism will increase with increasing body size when the male is the larger sex, and decrease with increasing average body size when the female is the larger sex)
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