scholarly journals Body size in tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in the south-eastern European biodiversity hotspot: sexual dimorphism and patterns of co-occurrence

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radomir Jaskuła ◽  
Mateusz Płóciennik ◽  
Axel Schwerk
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Tiger Beetles ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Reproduction Process ◽  
Similar Body ◽  
Sea Coast

In south-eastern Europe, especially in lowland areas located close to the sea coast, the diversity of Cicindelidae is one of the highest in the entire Palaearctic realm. This is both because of geological history of the region and the presence of large mosaic of habitats attractive for these beetles. As a result in the region about 25% of all Palaearctic species of tiger beetles can be found, including endemics. Many of them can be characterized by narrow or very narrow habitat preferences occurring only in one or two types of macrohabitats. In the present study sexual dimorphism of six species of tiger beetles (Calomera littoralis, C. fischeri, Cephalota circumdata, C. chiloleuca, Cylindera trisignata trisignata, Myriochila melancholica) collected along the sea coast of the Black and Mediterranean Seas was studied based on eight body parameters (right mandible length, length of head, width of head, length of pronotum, maximum pronotum width, length of elytra, maximum elytra width, and total body length.). Moreover, patterns of species co-occurrence on the basis of body size were investigated. As results we found significant sexual dimorphism indicated by larger body size of females and longer mandibles in males of the studied Cicindelidae species, what can be explained by different roles of the particular sexes in courtship (females invest much more energy in the reproduction process than males, e.g. to produce eggs or to find a good place to deposit them, as a result bigger size is much more beneficial for this sex). Moreover, we discovered that in the studied area tiger beetle species characterized by similar body size avoid each other and do not occur in the same areas.

scholarly journals Variation in body size of Phanocerus clavicornis Sharp, 1882 (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Larainae) in Atlantic Rainforest streams in response to hydraulic disturbance

2013 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
MO. Segura ◽  
T. Siqueira ◽  
AA. Fonseca-Gessner
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Head Width ◽  
High Plasticity ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Morphometric Variation ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Rain Events

In this study, patterns of body size of Phanocerus clavicornis Sharp, 1882 (Coleoptera: Elmidae: Larainae) were investigated along a gradient of change in speed of flow conditions in streams of low order in the Atlantic Rainforest in southeastern Brazil. Specifically, the hypothesis that the distribution of P. clavicornis larvae vary in size in response to variations in the speed of flow in streams was tested. A Surber sampler was used to collect larvae from the streambed during two sampling periods, defined by the rain regime: August in the dry season and February in the rainy season. Possible differences in mean measured body size were tested by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The ANOVA result indicated for all measurements on the larvae collected in first-order streams (head width, prothoracic width and total body length), there were significant differences indicating a morphometric variation due to changing hydraulic conditions, the smallest larvae being associated with the period of greater rainfall. However, the larger streams (3rd order), where the rain events had less impact on the larval size, varied widely. The results of this study suggest that the interstitial space is important for the protection of the larvae from water flow, and that populations of P. clavicornis have high plasticity, a key feature for the occupation of unstable environments for this species. These results are important for an understanding of the life history and behavioural characteristics of the species, which allow them to persist in streams along a gradient of flow disturbance.

scholarly journals Body size, female reproduction and sexual dimorphism in the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Teiidae) in a restinga of southeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 370-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Female Body Size ◽  
Reproductive Body

In this study 57 specimens of the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758) collected in the restinga at Barra de Maricá, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, were analyzed to investigate size relations and reproduction (in females) and sexual dimorphism of this population. We answered the following questions: 1) what is the minimum reproductive body size in females? 2) what is the average clutch size and 3) how is clutch size related to body size? 4) Are body and head sizes sexually dimorphic? Mean clutch size was 6.7 ± 2.1 eggs and was positively correlated with female body size. Sexual dimorphism favoring males was found: adult mean snout-vent length was great in males (124.2 ± 17.8 mm) than females (96.5 ± 23.1 mm SVL), and males were larger with respect to head width and length, and body mass. Thus, despite the marked seasonality at Barra de Maricá, A. ameiva has an extended reproductive period. Also, intrasexual selection may have acted on females to produce larger clutches, and on males, favoring larger males.

Factors driving sexual dimorphism and colour variability in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis), an endemic species to the highland mountains in central Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 377-389
Author(s):  
S. Naretto ◽  
M. Chiaraviglio
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Head Size ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Temporal And Spatial Distribution ◽  
Central Argentina

The intensity of mating competition varies according to the temporal and spatial distribution of individuals. Measuring sexual dimorphism over time and interpreting the association between individuals is therefore important if we aim to understand how sexual traits are influenced. We examined sex differences in the Achala Copper Lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis (Gallardo, 1964)), an endemic species from the highest part of mountains of central Argentina. Over 4 years, we explored sex-specific variation in body size, head size, interlimb length, and body colouration. Furthermore, we evaluated how these traits varied temporally, and we also explored whether the spatial distribution of individuals is explained by variation in these traits. We found that P. achalensis is a species with sexual dimorphism in multiple characters, including body size, head size, and colouration. Interestingly, some traits related to mating, such as head width, show a temporal variability in both sexes, whereas other traits, such as colouration, varies seasonally only in males. Our results underline the intriguing possibility of seasonal morphological changes related to mating, and more broadly that sex differences are influenced by sexual selection pressures mediated by temporal variation in mate competition.

scholarly journals Lophyra flexuosa (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) in desert countries: morphological variability in geographic aspect as potential beginning of speciation?

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radomir Jaskuła ◽  
Axel Schwerk ◽  
Mateusz Płóciennik
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Altitudinal Distribution ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Total Body

Lophyra flexuosa is one of only several eurytopic tiger beetles species known from Palearctic realm. Its geographical distribution shows several populations that are spread from the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, across some regions of south-western Europe and northern Africa to Israel and Syria. The species is characterized by long phenological activity, wide altitudinal distribution, and occurs in the highest number of habitats among all Cicindelidae known from Maghreb region. In the present study the geographical variation in morphology and sexual dimorphism in north African populations of L. flexuosa was studied. In total 52 samples with over 700 specimens were collected including 20 samples in Morocco and 32 in Tunisia. To test the variation in morphometric traits measurements of eight body parameters were taken from all males (383) and females (352) including right mandible length, length of head, width of head, length of pronotum, maximum pronotum width, length of elytra, maximum elytra width, and total body length. We discovered significant sexual dimorphism expressed by larger body size of females and longer mandibles in males, what can be explained by different roles of particular sexes in courtship. Moreover, we recorded significant differences in body sizes between western and eastern Maghreb populations which can suggest genetic isolation between these populations. As the species is related to habitats placed close to water reservoirs, which in the desert countries are under significant human pressure (including climate change), we expect an reduction of habitats occupied by this taxon. Therefore, the geographic morphological variability that we observe today in the tiger beetle Lophyra flexuosa may lead to speciation and creation of separate species in the future.

SEASONAL VARIATION IN BODY SIZE AND REPRODUCTIVE CONDITION OF A PAPER WASP, POLISTES METRICUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

1980 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance M. Haggard ◽  
George J. Gamboa
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
The Body ◽  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Polistes Metricus ◽  
Colony Cycle ◽  
Similar Body

AbstractSeasonal morphometric analysis of 788 adult Polistes metricus Say showed that: (1) Queens sampled throughout the colony cycle were of similar body size but significantly smaller than fall gynes. (2) Queens’ ovaries are large in the spring, decline early in the colony cycle, peak near the mid-postemergence period and decline late in the colony cycle. (3) There are no significant correlations between head width, ovary width, and size of nest in workers or queens. (4) Early and late workers are small but workers emerging during the mid-postemergence period are large. (5) All workers and gynes emerge with small, similar sized ovaries but older workers may develop larger ovaries. (6) Queens are larger than early and late workers but the same size as workers emerging during the mid-postemergence period. (7) The class with the largest adults were intermediates collected when colonies began production of males. These adults, intermediate in fat content between workers and gynes, comprised a large proportion of females emerging late in the colony cycle. (8) The body size of gynes is independent of colony size. (9) Males were significantly more variable in body size than gynes.

Sexual Dimorphism in Head Shape, Relative Head Width, and Body Size ofEurycea aquaticaandEurycea cirrigera

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Alcorn ◽  
Jennifer Deitloff ◽  
Sean P. Graham ◽  
Elizabeth K. Timpe
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Head Shape

scholarly journals Sexual Dimorphism in Anthonomus santacruzi (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): a Biological Control Agent of Solanum mauritianum Scopoli (Solanaceae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 840-850
Author(s):  
Archbold Sasa ◽  
Rafał Gosik ◽  
Ed T. F. Witkowski ◽  
Marcus J. Byrne ◽  
Miłosz A. Mazur
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Abdominal Tergite ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Structure ◽  
Solanum Mauritianum ◽  
Total Body

AbstractThere is evident variation in body size amongst Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache, 1924, weevils. The aims of this study were to assess if the variation in body size in A. santacruzi weevils is a result of sexual dimorphism and what features can be used to distinguish males from females. The weevils were collected from field sites in Mpumalanga, South Africa, where they were introduced as biocontrol agents of Solanum mauritianum Scopoli. Body structures and the presence/absence of the tergal notch was examined under an optical stereomicroscope and SEM to assess differences between sexes. The morphometric analysis of the body structures included rostrum length (base–apex and antennal insertion–apex), elytral length and width, pronotum length and width, first tarsus length, first tibia length, funiculus length and total body length. Rostrum length, elytra length and width and total body length were significantly larger in females than in males. A tergal notch in the 8th abdominal tergite was present in males and absent in females. The body structure; of rostrum length, elytra length and width and total body length overlapped between sexes in some specimens. The abdominal tergal notch was found to be the most useful body structure to distinguish males from females in A. santacruzi.

scholarly journals An Improved Approach to Measuring Sexual Dimorphism in Snakes: Morphological Variation in the Bahamian Racer (Cubophis vudii vudii)

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-146
Author(s):  
Scott Johnson ◽  
William K. Hayes
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Total Length ◽  
New Providence

Sexual dimorphism in animals exists in many forms, including overall size difference between the sexes (sexual size dimorphism, SSD) and size and structural differences in body components (sexual body component dimor­phism, SBCD). Studies of sexual dimorphism seek to determine whether dimorphic traits result from sexual selection, natural selection, or non-adaptive processes. Characterizing sexual dimorphism depends on identifying an unbiased character for overall body size, which can then be used to assess both SSD and SBCD. Most studies of snakes use snout-vent length (SVL) for this purpose, but SVL may itself be dimorphic. In this study, we examined SSD and SBCD in three island populations of the Bahamian Racer (Cubophis vudii vudii). Discriminant function analysis (DFA) showed that head width (females wider) and tail length (males longer) best discriminated between the sexes, and total length provided the least discrimination. Linear models using total length as the least-biased measure for overall size revealed an absence of SSD, but SBCD existed for head size (width 8.9% greater in females, length similar), trunk length (4.3% longer in females), and tail length (9.8% longer in males). Linear models also revealed differences among island populations for total length (New Providence < Eleuthera = Allen Cay) and head length (Allen Cay < Eleuthera < New Providence), but not head width or tail length. Extent of SBCD varied depending on choice of character to control for overall body size, with total length yielding the most female-biased values, and geometric mean, principal component 1 (PC1) of a principal components analysis, and SVL providing increasingly more male-biased values, respectively. Body condition was statistically similar for the two sexes and three seasons (spring, summer-fall, winter), but the mod­erate and large effect sizes, respectively, suggest that females were heavier than males, and both sexes were heaviest in spring. Females, which represented 64.9 of all snakes, suffered injuries disproportionately to males (19.7% and 3.1%, respectively), but no differences in sex ratio or frequency of injury existed among the island populations. Collectively, these findings illustrate the utility of using DFA and other approaches (geometric mean, PC1) to identify a relatively unbiased reference character for overall body size and suggest that sexual and natural selection interact to shape the morphology of these snakes.

scholarly journals Morphological distinction and sexual dimorphism in divergent clades of Neurergus kaiseri (Amphibia: Salamandridae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 5-17
Author(s):  
Hadi Khoshnamvand ◽  
Mansoureh Malekian ◽  
Yazdan Keivany
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Principle Component Analysis ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Taxonomic Revision ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Morphological Distinction ◽  
Ecological Differences

Morphological differentiation and sexual dimorphism in the two genetically distinct clades (Northern and Southern clades) of the Lorestan newt, Neurergus kaiseri, was evaluated for 72 live specimens, using five body- and nine head-related characters and eight calculated ratios. Principle component analysis of morphological characters confirmed that the Lorestan newt populations are well separated into two distinct groups, suggesting that a taxonomic revision in N. kaiseri may be required because of significant molecular, morphological and ecological differences between these clades. Sexual dimorphism in N. kaiseri includes body size and shape. Females were clearly larger than males in most body- and head-related variables and males had relatively greater head width and eye length. Sexual dimorphism in this species may be linked to sexual selection and ecological differences between sexes. However, many aspects of the ecology and reproductive biology of this species remain unknown.

Sexual dimorphism and allometry in the giant water strider Gigantometra gigas

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 923-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Tseng ◽  
Locke Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Total Body Length ◽  
Correlated Response ◽  
Water Strider ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Allometric Analysis ◽  
Total Leg ◽  
Total Body

This study describes sexual dimorphism in size (total body length and lengths of leg components) and in the allometric relationships between leg-component lengths and total body length in the giant water strider Gigantometra gigas (Heteroptera: Gerridae). Gigantometra gigas is the largest known gerrid, and has been previously described as monomorphic for body size. We compare our results with analogous data collected on Gerris buenoi, a species of more moderate size, where females are larger than males. Based on 94 specimens of G. gigas, we conclude that males are larger than females in all measured traits. This dimorphism was most spectacular in the leg components, which are 10-50% longer in males than in females. Males are generally more variable in size than females, and this is especially so for leg components. Allometric analysis suggests that total leg lengths (particularly middle and rear) increase at a much greater rate with body size in males than in females, therefore there is sexual dimorphism in allometries on the scale of that in the traits themselves. The relationship between middle and hind leg lengths is strong in both sexes, and appears to differ very little between the sexes or between G. gigas, and Ge. buenoi. These data suggest a constraint on this relationship, perhaps because of the biomechanics of locomotion. We propose that sexual selection acting on middle leg lengths in males explains both the increase and variance in middle leg length, and that hind leg length follows by correlated response.

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