Male wing shape differs between condition-dependent alternative reproductive tactics in territorial damselflies

Outomuro, David; Rodríguez-Martínez, Saúl; Karlsson, Anna; Johansson, Frank

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.02.018

Cited by 12 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…These contrasting results between fore-and hindwings suggest that foreand hindwings in Calopteryx damselflies are likely to have different roles during flight. Forewings are probably more involved in sustained flight and hindwings in signalling and manoeuvring in Calopteryx (Outomuro et al, 2012(Outomuro et al, , 2014. In support of this hypothesis, a previous study showed that hindwings, but not forewings, are essential for manoeuvring during flight in butterflies and moths (Jantzen & Eisner, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%

“…From previous studies in bats, butterflies and birds, we know that an overall short and wide wing improves flight manoeuvrability and agility, whereas a long and slender wing improves long distance and less energetically demanding flight (Norberg & Rayner, 1987;Betts & Wootton, 1988;Hedenstr€ om & Ros en, 2001;Fern andez & Lank, 2007). We have previously found that concave up front margins are related to the ability to maintain a territorial tactic in three species of Calopteryx damselflies, including C. splendens (Outomuro et al, 2014). Maintaining a territory requires high levels of flight manoeuvrability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We predicted that bird predation selects for a wing shape that improves flight manoeuvrability and agility: short and broad wings (Betts & Wootton, 1988;Fern andez & Lank, 2007) and a concave front margin shape, because this was found in territorial (as compared to nonterritorial) males of C. splendens (Outomuro et al, 2014). We also predicted that predation selects for a smaller wing patch (Zuk & Kolluru, 1998;Kuchta & Svensson, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Live individuals were captured using an insect net, in a daily mark-recapture study (weather permitting) from mid-June to late July in 2012, when damselfly densities were high (see Outomuro et al, 2014). Calopteryx damselflies are slow flyers and are easy to capture, so no bias is expected between good and poor flyers.…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A territorial Calopteryx male defends a small river patch that contains a perch and oviposition substrate for females (Heymer, 1972(Heymer, , 1973. He defends his territory against nonterritorial males through ritualized flight contests (Outomuro et al, 2014), and he displays a courtship flight towards females (Heymer, 1973;Anders & R€ uppell, 1997). Compared to other damselflies, species in the genus Calopteryx have particularly short and broad wings, allowing the manoeuvrable and agile flight required for territorial display and courtship (Outomuro et al, 2013a): their flapping flight resembles that of a butterfly (Grabow & R€ uppell, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bird predation selects for wing shape and coloration in a damselfly

Outomuro

Johansson

2015

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Wing shape is related to flight performance, which is expected to be under selection for improving flight behaviours such as predator avoidance. Moreover, wing conspicuousness, usually involved in sexual selection processes, is also relevant in terms of predation risk. In this study, we examined how predation by a passerine bird, the white wagtail Motacilla alba, selects wing shape and wing colour patch size in males of the banded demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. The wing colour patch is intra-and intersexually selected in the study species. In a field study, we compared wings of live damselflies to wings of predated damselflies which are always discarded after predation. Based on aerodynamic theory and a previous study on wing shape of territorial tactics in damselflies, we predicted an overall short and broad wing, with a concave front margin shape to be selected by predation. This shape would be expected to improve escaping ability. Moreover, we predicted that wing patch size should be negatively selected by predation. We found that selection operated differently on fore-and hindwings. In contrast to our predictions, predation favoured a slender general forewing shape. However, the predicted wing shape was favoured in hindwings. We also found selection favouring a narrower wing colour patch. Our results suggest different roles of fore-and hindwings in flight, as previously suggested for Calopteryx damselflies and shown for butterflies and moths. Forewings would be more involved in sustained flight and hindwings in flight manoeuvrability. Our results differ somehow from a recently published work in the same study system, but using another population, suggesting that selection can fluctuate across space, despite the simplicity of this predator-prey system.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 67%