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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Immunocompetence, developmental stability and wingspot size in the damselflyCalopteryx splendensL.
Jouni TaskinenMarkus J. RantalaJani KoskimäkiKatja TynkkynenJukka Suhonensubject
MaleHetaerinaInsectaanimal structuresGeneral Immunology and MicrobiologybiologyPigmentationEcologyGeneral Medicinebiology.organism_classificationModels BiologicalGeneral Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular BiologyFluctuating asymmetryAquatic organismsCalopterygidaeDamselflyAnimalsWings AnimalImmunocompetenceGeneral Agricultural and Biological SciencesImmunocompetenceResearch ArticleGeneral Environmental Sciencedescription
Calopteryx splendens males exhibit a remarkable variation in wing pigmentation both within and between populations. In this study, we examined whether the wingspots of male C. splendens are related to male quality. We measured the nylon implant encapsulation rate for 85 males and found that males with larger wingspots had a faster encapsulation rate, indicating a better immunocompetence. We also found that the encapsulation rate was positively correlated with the density of haemocytes in the haemolymph. Another measurement of male quality, fluctuating asymmetry of wingspots, correlated negatively with the size of the wingspots. Males with asymmetrical wingspots also had lower encapsulation rates than more symmetrical males. Our results suggest that the size of wingspot is an indicator of male quality in C. splendens.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-12-07 | Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences |