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Srygley RB, Branson DH. Power Bars: Mormon Crickets Get Immunity Boost from Eating Grasshoppers. INSECTS 2023; 14:868. [PMID: 37999067 PMCID: PMC10672412 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
In addition to feeding on plants, Mormon crickets Anabrus simplex Haldeman, 1852 predate on invertebrates, including one another, which effectively drives their migration. Carnivory derives from lack of dietary protein, with Mormon crickets deprived of protein having less phenoloxidase (PO) available to combat foreign invaders, such as fungal pathogens. Because Mormon crickets commonly occur with grasshoppers that feed on the same plants, we investigated interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, and hypothesized that if Mormon crickets are predatory on grasshoppers, grasshopper abundance would influence the protein available to Mormon crickets and their immunity. In a field setting, we varied densities of Mormon crickets (0, 10, or 20 per cage) and grasshoppers Melanoplus borealis (0, 15, 30, or 45) in 68 1-m2 cages. After one month, we measured Mormon cricket dietary preferences and PO activity. As predicted, artificial diet consumption shifted away from protein as grasshopper density increased, and immunocompetence, as measured by PO activity, also increased with grasshopper availability. Although nitrogen availability in the vegetation decreased with increasing insect density, predation became an important source of protein for Mormon crickets that enhanced immunity. Grasshoppers can be an important source of dietary protein for Mormon crickets, with prey availability affecting Mormon cricket immunity to diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B. Srygley
- Pest Management Research Unit, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, 1500 N. Central Ave., Sidney, MT 59270, USA;
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Warming and predation risk only weakly shape size-mediated priority effects in a cannibalistic damselfly. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17324. [PMID: 36243749 PMCID: PMC9569353 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22110-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in hatching dates can shape intraspecific interactions through size-mediated priority effects (SMPE), a phenomenon where bigger, early hatched individuals gain advantage over smaller, late hatched ones. However, it remains unclear to what extent and how SMPE are affected by key environmental factors such as warming and predation risk imposed by top predators. We studied effects of warming (low and high temperature) and predation risk (presence and absence of predator cues of perch) on SMPE in life history and physiological traits in the cannibalistic damselfly Ischnura elegans. We induced SMPE in the laboratory by manipulating hatching dates, creating following groups: early and late hatchlings reared in separate containers, and mixed phenology groups where early and late hatchlings shared the same containers. We found strong SMPE for survival and emergence success, with the highest values in early larvae of mixed phenology groups and the lowest values in late larvae of mixed phenology groups. Neither temperature nor predator cues affected SMPE for these two traits. The other life history traits (development rate and mass at emergence) did not show SMPE, but were affected by temperature and predator cues. A tendency for SMPE was found for protein content, in the high temperature treatment. The other physiological traits (phenoloxidase activity and fat content) showed fixed expressions across treatments, indicating decoupling between physiology and life history. The results underline that SMPEs are trait-dependent, and only weakly or not affected by temperature and predation risk.
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Morrill A, Kaunisto KM, Mlynarek JJ, Sippola E, Vesterinen EJ, Forbes MR. Metabarcoding prey DNA from fecal samples of adult dragonflies shows no predicted sex differences, and substantial inter-individual variation, in diets. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12634. [PMID: 35003931 PMCID: PMC8686731 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexes often differ in foraging and diet, which is associated with sex differences in size, trophic morphology, use of habitats, and/or life history tactics. Herein, strikingly similar diets were found for adult sexes of a dragonfly (Leucorrhinia intacta), based on comparing 141 dietary taxa identified from the metabarcoding of mitochondrial DNA archived in feces. Arthropods in > 5% of samples included five species of dipterans, two hemipterans, two spider species and one parasitic mite. The mite was not traditional prey as its presence was likely due to DNA contamination of samples arising through parasitism or possibly via accidental consumption during grooming, and therefore the mite was excluded from diet characterizations. Common prey species were found with statistically indistinguishable frequencies in male and female diets, with one exception of an aphid more often found in male diets, although this pattern was not robust to corrections for multiple statistical tests. While rare prey species were often found in diets of only one sex, instances of this were more frequent in the more oft-sampled females, suggesting sampling artefact. Sexes did not differ in the mean prey species richness in their diets. Overall, sexes showed statistically indistinguishable diets both on a prey species-by-species basis and in terms of multivariate characterizations of diet composition, derived from presence-absence data of prey species analyzed via PERMANOVA and accumulation curves. Males and females may have similar diets by being both opportunistic and generalist predators of arthropods, using the same foraging habitats and having similar sizes and flight agilities. Notably, similarities in diet between sexes occur alongside large interindividual differences in diet, within sexes. Researchers intending on explaining adaptive sex differences in diet should consider characteristics of species whose sexes show similar diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Morrill
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Ella Sippola
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Eero J. Vesterinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mark R. Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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A common measure of prey immune function is not constrained by the cascading effects of predators. Evol Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-021-10124-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Teder T, Kaasik A, Taits K, Tammaru T. Why do males emerge before females? Sexual size dimorphism drives sexual bimaturism in insects. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2461-2475. [PMID: 34128582 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Conspecific females and males often follow different development trajectories which leads to sex differences in age at maturity (sexual bimaturism, SBM). Whether SBM is typically selected for per se (direct selection hypothesis) or merely represents a side-effect of other sex-related adaptations (indirect selection hypothesis) is, however, still an open question. Substantial interspecific variation in the direction and degree of SBM, both in invertebrates and vertebrates, calls for multi-species studies to understand the relative importance of its evolutionary drivers. Here we use two complementary approaches to evaluate the evolutionary basis of SBM in insects. For this purpose, we assembled an extensive literature-derived data set of sex-specific development times and body sizes for a taxonomically and ecologically wide range of species. We use these data in a meta-analytic framework to evaluate support for the direct and indirect selection hypotheses. Our results confirm that protandry - males emerging as adults before females - is the prevailing form of SBM in insects. Nevertheless, protandry is not as ubiquitous as often presumed: females emerged before males (= protogyny) in about 36% of the 192 species for which we had data. Moreover, in a considerable proportion of species, the sex difference in the timing of adult emergence was negligible. In search for the evolutionary basis of SBM, we found stronger support for the hypothesis that explains SBM by indirect selection. First, across species, the direction and degree of SBM appeared to be positively associated with the direction and degree of sexual size dimorphism (SSD). This is consistent with the view that SBM is a correlative by-product of evolution towards sexually dimorphic body sizes. Second, within protandrous species, the degree of protandry typically increased with plastic increase in development time, with females prolonging their development more than males in unfavourable conditions. This pattern is in conflict with the direct selection hypothesis, which predicts the degree of protandry to be insensitive to the quality of the juvenile environment. These converging lines of evidence support the idea that, in insects, SBM is generally a by-product of SSD rather than a result of selection on the two sexes to mature at different times. It appears plausible that selective pressures on maturation time per se generally cannot compete with viability- and fecundity-mediated selection on insect body sizes. Nevertheless, exceptions certainly exist: there are undeniable cases of SBM where this trait has evolved in response to direct selection. In such cases, either the advantage of sex difference in maturation time must have been particularly large, or fitness effects of body size have been unusually weak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiit Teder
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu, EE-51003, Estonia.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, Praha 6 - Suchdol, 165 21, Czech Republic
| | - Ants Kaasik
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu, EE-51003, Estonia
| | - Kristiina Taits
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu, EE-51003, Estonia
| | - Toomas Tammaru
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, Tartu, EE-51003, Estonia
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Kemp DJ. Genotype-environment interaction reveals varied developmental responses to unpredictable host phenology in a tropical insect. Evolution 2021; 75:1537-1551. [PMID: 33749853 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic architecture of life history plasticity may inform resilience under environmental change, but relatively little is known for the inhabitants of unpredictable wet-dry tropical environments. Here, I explore the quantitative genetics of juvenile growth and development relative to hostplant phenology in the butterfly Eurema hecabe. Wet season generations of this species breed explosively on leguminous annuals whereas dry season generations subsist at low density upon an alternative perennial host. The wet-to-dry season transition is temporally unpredictable and marked by widespread host defoliation, forcing a large cohort of stranded larvae to either pupate prematurely or prolong development in the hope of renewed foliage production. A split-brood experiment demonstrated greater performance on high quality annual as opposed to perennial host foliage and a marked decline under the stressed conditions faced by stranded wet season larvae. Genetic variances for rates of growth and development were equivalent among high quality treatments but strikingly elevated under resource stress, and the associated cross-environment genetic correlations were indistinguishable from zero. The results demonstrate genotype-environment interaction involving both rank order and variance scale, thereby revealing genetic variance for norms of reaction that may reflect variable risk aversion given an unpredictable tropical host phenology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
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Singh P, Mishra G. Are the effects of hunger stage-specific? A case study in an aphidophagous ladybird beetle. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 111:66-72. [PMID: 32539897 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485320000309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Food availability is a fundamental factor determining an animal's potential fitness. Carry-over effects of food limitation from development to adulthood are known to influence reproduction, ageing, and tolerance to stress. We have examined the effect of stage-specific variation (before adult emergence or pre-emergence, post-emergence and post-mating) in food availability in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). Larvae were reared separately on two different pre-emergence food regimes (abundant or restricted) until pupation. Newly emerged adults were further split into two groups and placed on abundant or restricted post-emergence regimes. After mating, females were split and reared on any one of two post-mating regimes. The results revealed that: (i) time to commence mating declined with increased food availability in pre- and post-emergence stages, (ii) mating duration increased with food availability post-emergence, (iii) highest reproduction output was observed in individuals who had abundant food pre- and post-emergence. However, food availability at the time of oviposition also had a strong influence on fecundity. Solo bouts of scarcity, regardless of which stage suffered them, were effectively managed in at least two of the three stages (pre-emergence, post-emergence, post-mating) had abundant food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Singh
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
| | - Geetanjali Mishra
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226007, India
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Juárez-Hernández E, Villalobos-Jiménez G, Gutierrez-Corona JF, Krams I, González-Soriano E, Contreras-Garduño J. Hidden Costs in the Physiology of Argia anceps (Zigoptera: Coenagrionidae) due to Pollution. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2020; 49:227-233. [PMID: 31849022 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-019-00737-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Before a population becomes extinct, there are hidden costs in the physiology at the individual level that provide valuable insights into their condition. Here, we study two dams with one species in common (Argia anceps Garrison, 1996) to evaluate whether their physiological condition differed (total protein quantity, prophenoloxidase (proPO) and phenoloxidase (PO) activity, and protein carbonylation) during two consecutive years. The first dam, "El Gallinero" (contaminated, C), contains organic input from mines and agricultural activity, whereas the second, "Paso de Vaqueros" (non-contaminated, NC), is part of a biosphere reserve. Although at a phenological level, some physiological differences were observed (2012 vs 2013), individuals from the contaminated population had less total protein (2012, median = 1.815 μg/μL; 2013, 0.081 μg/μL) and more carbonylations in their proteins (2012, median = 19.00 nmol/mg; 2013, median = 121.69 nmol/mg) compared with the non-contaminated population (protein quantity in 2012, median = 3.716 μg/μL; 2013, median = 0.054 μg/μL; protein carbonylations in 2012, median = 0.00 nmol/mg; 2013, median = 99.44 nmol/mg). However, no significant differences were found in prophenoloxidase (C, median = 0.002 Vmax; NC, median = 0.002 Vmax) and phenoloxidase activity (C, median = 0.002 Vmax; NC, median = 0.001 Vmax). In addition, the biological oxygen demand (BOD) and Zn were more elevated in the C than NC population (C, BOD = 11.7, Zn = 0.17; NC, BOD = 8, Zn = 0.14). The results show that the impact of human activity can be observed not only through the extinction of species, but also at the physiological level of the individuals composing the populations through the evaluation of biomolecular damage, which can be observed at a much shorter scale compared with species extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Juárez-Hernández
- Depto de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Univ de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - J F Gutierrez-Corona
- Depto de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Univ de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - I Krams
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Univ of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Dept of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Univ of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | | | - J Contreras-Garduño
- ENES, unidad Morelia, UNAM, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro No.8701. Col. Ex-Hacienda San José de la Huerta Código, 58190, Morelia, Mexico.
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Rodríguez-Escobar FE, Carrillo-Muñoz AI, Serrano-Meneses MA. Seasonal variation in the allometry of wing pigmentation in adult males of the territorial damselfly Hetaerina vulnerata (Insecta Odonata). ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2019.1693432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frida E. Rodríguez-Escobar
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Puebla, C.P. 72810, México
| | - Aldo I. Carrillo-Muñoz
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla km 1.5, Tlaxcala, C.P. 90070, México
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Martín A. Serrano-Meneses
- Departamento de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas Puebla, Puebla, C.P. 72810, México
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Córdoba-Aguilar A, Rocha-Ortega M. Damselfly (Odonata: Calopterygidae) Population Decline in an Urbanizing Watershed. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2019; 19:5523070. [PMID: 31253984 PMCID: PMC6599065 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Reduction of terrestrial vegetation and degradation of water quality are among the factors driving insect population decline in growing cities. In this study, we investigated the extent of habitat deterioration, behavioral and physiological responses, and fitness of a damselfly [Hetaerina americana (F.)] population in a semitropical region in central Mexico. The study population was located in a riverine area that crosses a small urban area (Tehuixtla city). We related two habitat variables (tree/shrub covered area and numbers of wastewater outlets) to presumable damselfly responses (larval and adult abundance, duration of adults exposed directly to sunlight, lipid content and muscle mass, and egg survival) over the years 2002 and 2016. We detected a reduction in terrestrial vegetation cover, an increase in wastewater outlets, and a decrease in larval and adult abundance. Adults were more exposed to sunlight in 2016 than in 2002 and showed a reduced lipid content and muscle mass in 2016. Egg survival also decreased. Although correlative, these results suggest impairment of damselfly condition (via lipid and muscle reduction) and fitness as urbanization increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70–275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico
| | - Maya Rocha-Ortega
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70–275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico
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Martínez‐Lendech N, Golab MJ, Osorio‐Beristain M, Contreras‐Garduño J. Sexual signals reveal males’ oxidative stress defences: Testing this hypothesis in an invertebrate. Funct Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Norma Martínez‐Lendech
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y ConservaciónUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
| | - Maria J. Golab
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of Sciences Krakow Poland
| | - Marcela Osorio‐Beristain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y ConservaciónUniversidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos Cuernavaca Mexico
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Plesnar-Bielak A, Woch KR, Małszycki MA, Alkhawlany ATH, Hołysz A, Assis Correia JF, Turk N, Ugrin M, Kramarz P, Prokop ZM. Larval and adult nutrition effects on reproductive traits in the red flour beetle. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Plesnar-Bielak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - K. R. Woch
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - M. A. Małszycki
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | | | - A. Hołysz
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | | | - N. Turk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - M. Ugrin
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - P. Kramarz
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - Z. M. Prokop
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
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McKay AF, Ezenwa VO, Altizer S. Consequences of Food Restriction for Immune Defense, Parasite Infection, and Fitness in Monarch Butterflies. Physiol Biochem Zool 2016; 89:389-401. [DOI: 10.1086/687989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Flores-Villegas AL, Cabrera-Bravo M, Toriello C, Bucio-Torres MI, Salazar-Schettino PM, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Survival and immune response of the Chagas vector Meccus pallidipennis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) against two entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:176. [PMID: 27012246 PMCID: PMC4806461 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1453-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is a key health problem in Latin America and is caused and transmitted by Trypanosoma cruzi and triatomine bugs, respectively. Control of triatomines has largely relied on the use pyrethroids, which has proved to be ineffective in the long term. Alternatively, the use of entomopathogenic fungi has been implemented to control triatomine bugs. These fungi are highly efficient as they induce a reduction in immune response on insects. Meccus pallidipennis is the main triatomine vector of Chagas disease in Mexico. In this work we investigated the effects of two entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Isaria fumosorosea, on M. pallidipennis nymphs in terms of insect survival and immune response. METHODS We had an infected and a control group for each fungal species and assessed: a) insect survival during 30 days; and, b) phenoloxidase (PO) and prophenoloxidase (proPO; two key traits in insect immune response) at 24, 48, 96 and 144 h. For survival we used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis while for immune response we used factorial, repeated-measures ANOVA for each fungal species. RESULTS Animals treated with M. anisopliae died sooner than animals treated with I. fumosorosea. Infected animals showed lower PO and proPO values than sham individuals, with a clear decrease in these parameters at 24 h with no further changes after this time. CONCLUSIONS Our study widens the possibility of entomopathogenic fungi being used for triatomine control. The negative effect on PO and proPO seems mediated by a down-regulation of the triatomine immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Laura Flores-Villegas
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, Mexico
| | - Margarita Cabrera-Bravo
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, Mexico
| | - Conchita Toriello
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, Mexico
| | - Martha I Bucio-Torres
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, Mexico
| | - Paz María Salazar-Schettino
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF, Mexico.
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apdo. P. 70-275, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, Mexico.
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Xie J, De Clercq P, Pan C, Li H, Zhang Y, Pang H. Physiological effects of compensatory growth during the larval stage of the ladybird, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 83:37-42. [PMID: 26546057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The growth rate of insects may vary in response to shifty environments. They may achieve compensatory growth after a period of food restriction followed by ad libitum food, which may further affect the reproductive performance and lifespan of the resulting phenotypes. However, little is known about the physiological mechanisms associated with such growth acceleration in insects. The present study examined the metabolic rate, the antioxidant enzyme activity and the gene expression of adult Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) after experiencing compensatory growth during its larval stages. Starved C. montrouzieri individuals achieved a similar developmental time and adult body mass as those supplied with ad libitum food during their entire larval stage, indicating that compensatory growth occurred as a result of the switch in larval food regime. Further, the compensatory growth was found to exert effects on the physiological functions of C. montrouzieri, in terms of its metabolic rates and enzyme activities. The adults undergoing compensatory growth were characterized by a higher metabolic rate, a lower activity of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase and a lower gene expression of P450 and trehalase. Taken together, the results indicate that although compensatory growth following food restriction in early larval life prevents developmental delay and body mass loss, the resulting adults may encounter physiological challenges affecting their fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Ecology and Evolution, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Clercq
- Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Chang Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Ecology and Evolution, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Haosen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Ecology and Evolution, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yuhong Zhang
- Guangdong Entomological Institute, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Hong Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institute, College of Ecology and Evolution, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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16
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Effect of Ecological Restoration on Body Condition of a Predator. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133551. [PMID: 26226363 PMCID: PMC4520667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological restoration attempts to recover the structure and function of ecosystems that have been degraded by human activities. A crucial test of ecosystem recovery would be to determine whether individuals in restored environments are as healthy as those in conserved environments. However, the impact of restoration on physiology of terrestrial animals has never been tested. Here, we evaluated the effect of two restoration methods on body condition measured as body size, body mass, lipid and muscle content of the spider Nephila clavipes in a tropical dry forest that has suffered chronic disturbance due to cattle grazing. We used experimental plots that had been excluded from disturbance by cattle grazing during eight years. Plots were either planted with native trees (i. e. maximal intervention), or only excluded from disturbance (i. e. minimal intervention), and were compared with control conserved (remnants of original forest) and disturbed plots (where cattle is allowed to graze). We predicted (1) better body condition in spiders of conserved and restored sites, compared to disturbed sites, and (2) better body condition in plots with maximal intervention than in plots with minimal intervention. The first prediction was not supported in males or females, and the second prediction was only supported in females: body dry mass was higher in planted than in conserved plots for spiders of both sexes and also higher that in disturbed plots for males, suggesting that plantings are providing more resources. We discuss how different life histories and environmental pressures, such as food availability, parasitism, and competition for resources can explain our contrasting findings in male and female spiders. By studying animal physiology in restoration experiments it is possible to understand the mechanistic basis of ecological and evolutionary processes that determine success of ecological restoration.
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Arellano L, Castillo-Guevara C, Huerta C, Germán-García A, Lara C. Effect of using different types of animal dung for feeding and nesting by the dung beetle Onthophagus lecontei (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae). CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Onthophagus lecontei Harold, 1871 is an American dung beetle that feeds on the dungs of a variety of species, perhaps owing to hitherto unknown differences in their effect on its development and survival. We tested whether using different types of dung (exotic and native) for feeding and nesting affects O. lecontei’s progeny. Adult beetles from the field were randomly paired and assigned to horse (Equus ferus Boddaert, 1785), goat (Capra hircus aegagrus Erxleben, 1777; domestic), or wild rabbit (Sylvilagus cunicularius (Waterhouse, 1848); native, endemic) dung under laboratory conditions. The number, mass, and volume of their brood masses, the number of emerged beetles, adult size, and duration of preimaginal stages (egg, larva, and pupa) were evaluated. There were differences for all variables: O. lecontei reared in wild rabbit dung produced more progeny, more brood masses, and larger adult beetles, and offspring remained in each preimaginal stage for a shorter period of time. Onthophagus lecontei is able to feed and nest using all three types of dung, but wild rabbit dung is the most favorable for its development. This suggests the existence of a long-standing association between O. lecontei and this native rabbit and the optional relationships with introduced herbivores; plasticity in reproductive behavior that may be useful when the optimal resource is not available.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Arellano
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Ecoetología, Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, México
| | - C. Castillo-Guevara
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, km 10.5 Autopista Tlaxcala-San Martín Texmelucan San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala 90120, México
| | - C. Huerta
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Ecoetología, Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa 91070, Veracruz, México
| | - A. Germán-García
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla, km 1.5 Colonia Xicoténcatl, Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala 90070, México
| | - C. Lara
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Biodiversidad, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, km 10.5 Autopista Tlaxcala-San Martín Texmelucan San Felipe Ixtacuixtla, Tlaxcala 90120, México
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18
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Size dependence of courtship effort may promote male choice and strong assortative mating in soldier beetles. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-015-1900-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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19
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Krams I, Kecko S, Kangassalo K, Moore FR, Jankevics E, Inashkina I, Krama T, Lietuvietis V, Meija L, Rantala MJ. Effects of food quality on trade-offs among growth, immunity and survival in the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella. INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 22:431-439. [PMID: 24771711 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The resources available to an individual in any given environment are finite, and variation in life history traits reflect differential allocation of these resources to competing life functions. Nutritional quality of food is of particular importance in these life history decisions. In this study, we tested trade-offs among growth, immunity and survival in 3 groups of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae fed on diets of high and average nutritional quality. We found rapid growth and weak immunity (as measured by encapsulation response) in the larvae of the high-energy food group. It took longer to develop on food of average nutritional quality. However, encapsulation response was stronger in this group. The larvae grew longer in the low-energy food group, and had the strongest encapsulation response. We observed the highest survival rates in larvae of the low-energy food group, while the highest mortality rates were observed in the high-energy food group. A significant negative correlation between body mass and the strength of encapsulation response was found only in the high-energy food group revealing significant competition between growth and immunity only at the highest rates of growth. The results of this study help to establish relationships between types of food, its nutritional value and life history traits of G. mellonella larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrikis Krams
- Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, 5401, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sanita Kecko
- Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, 5401, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Katariina Kangassalo
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Fhionna R Moore
- School of Psychology, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Eriks Jankevics
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, 1067 Rīga, Latvia
| | - Inna Inashkina
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, 1067 Rīga, Latvia
| | - Tatjana Krama
- Institute of Systematic Biology, University of Daugavpils, 5401, Daugavpils, Latvia
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Science, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | | | - Markus J Rantala
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
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20
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LeCraw RM, Srivastava DS, Romero GQ. Metacommunity size influences aquatic community composition in a natural mesocosm landscape. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin M. LeCraw
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Dept of Zoology; Univ. of British Columbia; 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Diane S. Srivastava
- Biodiversity Research Centre, Dept of Zoology; Univ. of British Columbia; 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver BC Canada
| | - Gustavo Q. Romero
- Depto de Biologia Animal; Univ. Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP); CEP 13083-970 Campinas São Paulo Brazil
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A mismatch between the perceived fighting signal and fighting ability reveals survival and physiological costs for bearers. PLoS One 2014; 9:e84571. [PMID: 24409304 PMCID: PMC3883682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Signals of fighting indicate an animal's intention to attack and so they serve to prevent costly aggressive encounters. However, according to theory, a signal that is different in design (i.e. a novel signal) but that fails to inform fighting intentions will result in negative fitness consequences for the bearer. In the present study we used males of the territorial damselfly Hetaerina americana, which have a red wing spot during territory defense that has evolved as a signal of fighting ability. By producing a novel signal (covering the red spot with blue ink) in territory owners, we investigated: a) the behavioral responses by conspecific males; b) survival cost and c) three physiological mediators of impaired survival: muscular fat reserves, muscle mass and immune ability. We predicted that males with the novel signal would be attacked more often by conspecifics as the former would fail to convey fighting ability and intentions adequately. This will result in lower survival and physiological condition for the novel signal bearers. We found that, compared to control males (males whose red spot was not changed), experimental males had reduced survival, were less able to hold a territory, and had a reduced muscle mass. It seems that spot modified males were not able to effectively communicate their territory tenancy, which may explain why they lost their defended sites. Our results provide support for theoretical models that a novel signal that fails to informing fighting ability may lead to a fitness cost for bearers.
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Li SJ, Wang X, Zhou ZS, Zhu J, Hu J, Zhao YP, Zhou GW, Huang GH. A comparison of growth and development of three major agricultural insect pests infected with Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h). PLoS One 2013; 8:e85704. [PMID: 24386488 PMCID: PMC3875588 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses that are pathogenic to lepidopteran hosts, particularly noctuid larvae. Infection of a larva is characterized by retarded growth, reduced feeding and yellowish body color. In this paper, we reported the growth and development of three major agricultural noctuid insect pests, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), infected with Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h). Using 10-fold serial dilutions (0 to 7) of HvAV-3h-containing hemolymph to infect S. litura larvae, we found no significant difference in larval mortalities from 0 to 10(3)-fold dilutions; however, significant differences were observed at 10(4)-fold dilution and above. Using a 10-fold dilution of HvAV-3h-containing hemolymph to infect H. armigera, S. exigua and S. litura larvae, we found that the growth and development were significantly affected. All infected larvae could not pupate; the survival times of treated H. armigera, S. litura and S. exigua larvae were significantly longer than untreated control larvae. Body weight showed significant difference between treated and untreated control group from day 1 after inoculation in H. armigera and S. exigua, but day 2 in S. litura. Additionally, food intake also showed significant difference between treated and untreated control group from day 2 after inoculation in H. armigera and S. litura, but day 3 in S. exigua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Ji Li
- Institute of Virology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Plant Protection, Oriental Science & Technology College of Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhong-Shi Zhou
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhu
- Institute of Virology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jue Hu
- Institute of Virology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi-Pei Zhao
- Department of Plant Protection, Oriental Science & Technology College of Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Gui-Wei Zhou
- Institute of Virology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guo-Hua Huang
- Institute of Virology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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23
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The sicker sex: understanding male biases in parasitic infection, resource allocation and fitness. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76246. [PMID: 24194830 PMCID: PMC3806765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The "sicker sex" idea summarizes our knowledge of sex biases in parasite burden and immune ability whereby males fare worse than females. The theoretical basis of this is that because males invest more on mating effort than females, the former pay the costs by having a weaker immune system and thus being more susceptible to parasites. Females, conversely, have a greater parental investment. Here we tested the following: a) whether both sexes differ in their ability to defend against parasites using a natural host-parasite system; b) the differences in resource allocation conflict between mating effort and parental investment traits between sexes; and, c) effect of parasitism on survival for both sexes. We used a number of insect damselfly species as study subjects. For (a), we quantified gregarine and mite parasites, and experimentally manipulated gregarine levels in both sexes during adult ontogeny. For (b), first, we manipulated food during adult ontogeny and recorded thoracic fat gain (a proxy of mating effort) and abdominal weight (a proxy of parental investment) in both sexes. Secondly for (b), we manipulated food and gregarine levels in both sexes when adults were about to become sexually mature, and recorded gregarine number. For (c), we infected male and female adults of different ages and measured their survival. Males consistently showed more parasites than females apparently due to an increased resource allocation to fat production in males. Conversely, females invested more on abdominal weight. These differences were independent of how much food/infecting parasites were provided. The cost of this was that males had more parasites and reduced survival than females. Our results provide a resource allocation mechanism for understanding sexual differences in parasite defense as well as survival consequences for each sex.
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25
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González‐Tokman DM, González‐Santoyo I, Córdoba‐Aguilar A. Mating success and energetic condition effects driven by terminal investment in territorial males of a short‐lived invertebrate. Funct Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. González‐Tokman
- Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Apdo. Postal 70‐275, Ciudad Universitaria04510 México D. F México
| | - Isaac González‐Santoyo
- Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Apdo. Postal 70‐275, Ciudad Universitaria04510 México D. F México
| | - Alex Córdoba‐Aguilar
- Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Apdo. Postal 70‐275, Ciudad Universitaria04510 México D. F México
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26
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Álvarez HA, Serrano-Meneses MA, Reyes-Márquez I, Jiménez-Cortés JG, Córdoba-Aguilar A. Allometry of a sexual trait in relation to diet experience and alternative mating tactics in two rubyspot damselflies (Calopterygidae:Hetaerina). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2012.02031.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo A. Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones; Escuela de Biología; Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; Blvd. Valsequillo y Av. San Claudio, Edificio 112-A, Col. Jardines de San Manuel, Ciudad Universitaria CP 72570 Puebla México
| | - Martín Alejandro Serrano-Meneses
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva; Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta; Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala; Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla Km. 1.5 90062 Tlaxcala México
| | - Isidora Reyes-Márquez
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva; Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta; Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala; Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla Km. 1.5 90062 Tlaxcala México
| | - Jesús Guillermo Jiménez-Cortés
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Apdo. Postal 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria 04510 México DF México
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva; Instituto de Ecología; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Apdo. Postal 70-275, Ciudad Universitaria 04510 México DF México
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