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Allometry in damselfly ornamental and genital traits: solving some pitfalls of allometry and sexual selection

Genetica volume 138, pages 1141–1146 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Static allometry of sexually selected traits has been the subject of intense research recently. However, some pitfalls for this kind of research are: (a) the functions of sexual traits are largely unknown; (b) more than one body size indicator must be measured; and, (c) allometry must be examined under different environmental circumstances to see whether allometric values change. Using Hetaerina americana damselflies, we investigated the type of allometry exhibited by a wing red spot and aedeagal width. These traits are positively selected during pre-copulatory male-male contests and post-copulatory female stimulation, respectively. As body size indicators, we used wing length and head width. It has been documented that expression of both sexual traits varies throughout the year. Thus, allometry was examined in different times of the year. We also investigated the allometry of aedeagal width and vaginal width at the zone where female stimulation takes place. We found no clear pattern of any allometric relationship for male and female traits and for both body size indicators at all times sampled. Our results contrast with patterns of negative allometry exhibited by genital traits in other animals.

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Acknowledgments

To J. G. Jiménez Cortés for collecting animals, M. A. Serrano-Meneses for statistical advice, and R. I. Martínez Becerril for logistic help. For fruitful discussion, our thanks to members of the Laboratorio de Ecología de la Conducta de Artrópodos. Financial support was obtained from PAPIIT (projects No. IN230603 and IN210868). Two anonymous reviewers and William T. Etges provided key comments that, among other issues, largely improved the statistical interpretations of our results.

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  1. Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. Postal 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Mexico D.F., Mexico

    A. Córdoba-Aguilar, A. López-Valenzuela & O. Brunel

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  1. A. Córdoba-Aguilar
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  2. A. López-Valenzuela
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  3. O. Brunel
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Correspondence to A. Córdoba-Aguilar.

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Córdoba-Aguilar, A., López-Valenzuela, A. & Brunel, O. Allometry in damselfly ornamental and genital traits: solving some pitfalls of allometry and sexual selection. Genetica 138, 1141–1146 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-010-9504-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-010-9504-6

Keywords

  • Allometry
  • Ornament
  • Genitalia
  • Function
  • Seasonal
  • Damselfly