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Ecology and Sexual Selection: Evolution of Wing Pigmentation in Calopterygid Damselflies in Relation to Latitude, Sexual Dimorphism, and Speciation

Svensson, Erik LU orcid and Waller, John LU (2013) In American Naturalist 182(5). p.174-195
Abstract
Our knowledge about how the environment influences sexual selection regimes and how ecology and sexual selection interact is still limited. We performed an integrative study of wing pigmentation in calopterygid damselflies, combining phylogenetic comparative analyses, field observations and experiments. We investigated the evolutionary consequences of wing pigmentation for sexual dimorphism, speciation, and extinction and addressed the possible thermoregulatory benefits of pigmentation. First, we reconstructed ancestral states of male and female phenotypes and traced the evolutionary change of wing pigmentation. Clear wings are the ancestral state and that pigmentation dimorphism is derived, suggesting that sexual selection results in... (More)
Our knowledge about how the environment influences sexual selection regimes and how ecology and sexual selection interact is still limited. We performed an integrative study of wing pigmentation in calopterygid damselflies, combining phylogenetic comparative analyses, field observations and experiments. We investigated the evolutionary consequences of wing pigmentation for sexual dimorphism, speciation, and extinction and addressed the possible thermoregulatory benefits of pigmentation. First, we reconstructed ancestral states of male and female phenotypes and traced the evolutionary change of wing pigmentation. Clear wings are the ancestral state and that pigmentation dimorphism is derived, suggesting that sexual selection results in sexual dimorphism. We further demonstrate that pigmentation elevates speciation and extinction rates. We also document a significant biogeographic association with pigmented species primarily occupying northern temperate regions with cooler climates. Field observations and experiments on two temperate sympatric species suggest a link between pigmentation, thermoregulation, and sexual selection, although body temperature is also affected by other phenotypic traits such as body mass, microhabitat selection, and thermoregulatory behaviors. Taken together, our results suggest an important role for wing pigmentation in sexual selection in males and in speciation. Wing pigmentation might not increase ecological adaptation and species longevity, and its primary function is in sexual signaling and species recognition. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
BiSSE, body temperature, Calopterygidae, Diversitree, insects, melanin, odonates, thermal adaptation, thermal imaging
in
American Naturalist
volume
182
issue
5
pages
174 - 195
publisher
University of Chicago Press
external identifiers
  • wos:000325415100003
  • pmid:24107378
  • scopus:84885227003
  • pmid:24107378
ISSN
0003-0147
DOI
10.1086/673206
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac9d3f99-68d1-452d-a0a8-21c4fef81778 (old id 4171770)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:39:12
date last changed
2024-04-21 17:26:55
@article{ac9d3f99-68d1-452d-a0a8-21c4fef81778,
  abstract     = {{Our knowledge about how the environment influences sexual selection regimes and how ecology and sexual selection interact is still limited. We performed an integrative study of wing pigmentation in calopterygid damselflies, combining phylogenetic comparative analyses, field observations and experiments. We investigated the evolutionary consequences of wing pigmentation for sexual dimorphism, speciation, and extinction and addressed the possible thermoregulatory benefits of pigmentation. First, we reconstructed ancestral states of male and female phenotypes and traced the evolutionary change of wing pigmentation. Clear wings are the ancestral state and that pigmentation dimorphism is derived, suggesting that sexual selection results in sexual dimorphism. We further demonstrate that pigmentation elevates speciation and extinction rates. We also document a significant biogeographic association with pigmented species primarily occupying northern temperate regions with cooler climates. Field observations and experiments on two temperate sympatric species suggest a link between pigmentation, thermoregulation, and sexual selection, although body temperature is also affected by other phenotypic traits such as body mass, microhabitat selection, and thermoregulatory behaviors. Taken together, our results suggest an important role for wing pigmentation in sexual selection in males and in speciation. Wing pigmentation might not increase ecological adaptation and species longevity, and its primary function is in sexual signaling and species recognition.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Erik and Waller, John}},
  issn         = {{0003-0147}},
  keywords     = {{BiSSE; body temperature; Calopterygidae; Diversitree; insects; melanin; odonates; thermal adaptation; thermal imaging}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{174--195}},
  publisher    = {{University of Chicago Press}},
  series       = {{American Naturalist}},
  title        = {{Ecology and Sexual Selection: Evolution of Wing Pigmentation in Calopterygid Damselflies in Relation to Latitude, Sexual Dimorphism, and Speciation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/673206}},
  doi          = {{10.1086/673206}},
  volume       = {{182}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}