You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article

An ontogenetic perspective on the relationship between age and size at maturity

  1. D. BERNER1,*,
  2. W. U. BLANCKENHORN2

Article first published online: 16 MAR 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01253.x

Issue

Functional Ecology

Functional Ecology

Volume 21, Issue 3, pages 505–512, June 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

BERNER, D. and BLANCKENHORN, W. U. (2007), An ontogenetic perspective on the relationship between age and size at maturity. Functional Ecology, 21: 505–512. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01253.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Redpath Museum & Department of Biology, McGill University, 859 Sherbrooke Street W., Montreal, PQ, H3A 2K6, Canada, and

  2. 2

    Zoological Museum, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland

* *Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: daniel.berner@mail.mcgill.ca

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 MAR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 16 MAR 2007
  3. Received 25 September 2006; revised 17 November 2006; accepted 10 January 2007 Editor: Charles Fox

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (138K)

Keywords:

  • genetic correlation;
  • growth rate;
  • maturation;
  • physiology;
  • reaction norm

Summary

  • 1
    Understanding the relationship between age and size at maturity is essential because these traits are pivotal determinants of an organism's fitness.
  • 2
    The relationship between age and size is commonly addressed using optimization and quantitative genetic approaches. Here we argue that the value of such studies is often limited by an insufficient consideration of organismal ontogeny.
  • 3
    On the basis of a simple conceptual framework of hierarchical resource allocation, we identify key aspects of ontogeny that prove critical to a fuller understanding of the relationship between age and size, and which, to date, have been insufficiently explored. In particular, these include intrinsic variation in growth rate within and among populations, and the physiological nature of the maturation process that co-ordinates growth and reproductive function in an organism.
  • 4
    We also provide some guidance to the empirical investigation of these aspects, anticipating that a wider theoretical, but especially empirical appreciation of ontogenetic detail will greatly increase the explanatory and predictive power of life-history studies.
View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (138K)