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<p>The study of dragonfly exuviae is an effective tool that provides noninvasive insight into many aspects of their population biology or interspecific interactions with their predators or prey. Here, we analysed morphometric parameters of the exuviae of five dominant dragonfly species in three central European ponds characterized by different fish populations and generated a robust set of morphometric data. We hypothesized that sexual dimorphism may occur at least in some taxa, and we assumed that the presence of fish may induce phenotypic plasticity – differences in some morphological parameters (e.g., larger abdominal spines in Anisoptera). Except for one, all of the studied species showed significant sexual size dimorphism that was species-specific. In <i>Aeshna cyanea</i>, <i>Pyrrhosoma</i> <i>nymphula</i> and <i>Coenagrion</i> cf. <i>puella</i> female exuviae were generally larger than male exuviae, whereas the exuviae were larger for males than for females in <i>Sympetrum</i> cf<i>. vulgatum</i>. We suppose that sexual selection but also other selection mechanisms, such as phenotypic adaptation to different microhabitats, underlie the observed patterns. The morphometric characteristics of the dragonfly nymphal populations also differed geographically, most likely as a trade-off between induced defence against fish predation and predation by other invertebrates, and adaptations for fish fry capture. Sexual dimorphism and between-site variability can have important ecological consequences for dragonfly nymphs in freshwater food webs. However, both may arise from a complicated tangle of factors that need further study.</p>

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Morphometric analysis of exuviae suggests sexual dimorphism and induced morphological plasticity in pond-dwelling dragonflies

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年1月18日

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  • Zuzana Lehká,
  • Adam Janto,
  • Marek Svitok,
  • Milan Novikmec

摘要

The study of dragonfly exuviae is an effective tool that provides noninvasive insight into many aspects of their population biology or interspecific interactions with their predators or prey. Here, we analysed morphometric parameters of the exuviae of five dominant dragonfly species in three central European ponds characterized by different fish populations and generated a robust set of morphometric data. We hypothesized that sexual dimorphism may occur at least in some taxa, and we assumed that the presence of fish may induce phenotypic plasticity – differences in some morphological parameters (e.g., larger abdominal spines in Anisoptera). Except for one, all of the studied species showed significant sexual size dimorphism that was species-specific. In Aeshna cyanea, Pyrrhosoma nymphula and Coenagrion cf. puella female exuviae were generally larger than male exuviae, whereas the exuviae were larger for males than for females in Sympetrum cf. vulgatum. We suppose that sexual selection but also other selection mechanisms, such as phenotypic adaptation to different microhabitats, underlie the observed patterns. The morphometric characteristics of the dragonfly nymphal populations also differed geographically, most likely as a trade-off between induced defence against fish predation and predation by other invertebrates, and adaptations for fish fry capture. Sexual dimorphism and between-site variability can have important ecological consequences for dragonfly nymphs in freshwater food webs. However, both may arise from a complicated tangle of factors that need further study.