Males and females differ in body shape and body size (sexual size dimorphism – SSD). SSD’s causes have already been dealt with by Charles Darwin, who has highlighted the key role of sexual selection. However, it is a current scientific topic, SSD is used as a predictor of the intensity of sexual selection and the associated social behavior of individual species. In addition, the evolutionary and ontogenetic causes of the empirical Rensch’s rule are studied, which reveal a positive alometric dependence between males and females (Frýdlová & Frynta 2015). Conceptual research frameworks are phylogenetics, phenotypic plasticity, and current study of proximal and ultimate causes of SSD. Students are involved in SSD research projects in selected vertebrate groups (Squamate reptiles, ungulates) including domesticated forms (Polák & Frynta 2009). The aim is comparative and ontogenetic analysis of causes of SSD (Frynta et al. 2018; Frýdlová et al. 2011; Frynta et al. 2010).
Frýdlová P. and Frynta D. (2015). Strong support for Rensch’s rule in an American clade of lizards (Teiidae and Gymnophtalmidae) and a paradox of the largest tejus. The Science of Nature 102(5-6):1-11.
Frýdlová P., Velenský P., Šimková O., Cikánová V., Hnízdo J., Rehák I. and Frynta D. (2011). Is body shape of mangrove-dwelling monitor lizards (Varanus indicus, Varanidae) sexually dimorphic? Amphibia-Reptilia 32(1):27-37.
Frynta, D., Frýdlová, P., Hnízdo, J., Šimková, O., Cikánová, V., & Velenský, P. (2010). Ontogeny of sexual size dimorphism in monitor lizards: males grow for a longer period, but not at a faster rate. Zoological science, 27(12), 917-923.
Frynta D., Jančúchová-Lásková J., Frýdlová P. and Landová E. (2018). A comparative study of growth: different body weight trajectories in three species of the genus Eublepharis and their hybrids. Scientific reports, 8(1), 2658.
Polák J. and Frynta D. (2009). Sexual size dimorphism in domestic goats, sheep and their wild relatives. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 98: 872-883.