Geographical variation of prementum size in Iberian Cordulegaster boltonii (Odonata: Cordulegastridae) populations

Geographical variation of prementum size in Iberian Cordulegaster boltonii (Odonata: Cordulegastridae) populations 00

M. Ángeles Hernández^a ✉️ , Patricia Casanueva^b , Luisa Nunes^c,d , Tomás Santamaría^e , Luis Fernando Sánchez-Sastre^f , Manuel Ferreras-Romero^g , Francisco Campos^b

Departamento de Biología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, 31080 Pamplona, Spain
Departamento de Ciencias Experimentales, Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, 47012 Valladolid, Spain
Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco – Escola Superior Agrária. Qta Sra Mercules, 6000-900 Castelo Branco, Portugal
Centre for Applied Ecology Prof. Baeta Neves (CEABN-InBIO), School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, Lisbon, 1349-017, Portugal
Universidad Católica de Ávila, Calle Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Área de Ingeniería Cartográfica, Departamento CMeIM/EGI/ICGF/IM/IPF, EIFAB, Universidad de Valladolid, 42004 Soria, Spain
Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, A-376 km 1, 41013 Sevilla, Spain

International Journal of Odonatology, Volume 25, Pages 56-61, 2022

https://doi.org/10.48156/1388.2022.1917169

Published: 14 March 2022 (Received: 26 January 2022, Accepted: 4 March 2022)

Abstract

Within wide geographical areas, Odonata populations can show biometric differences as a consequence of both biotic (e.g., predation, competition) and abiotic factors (mainly temperature). These differences can occur in the larval stage, although reliable characters are needed to detect differences. We analyzed whether Cordulegaster boltonii larvae from 18 Iberian populations differ regarding head width and prementum size (maximum width, minimum width, and maximum length), using measurements taken on final stage exuviae. Prementum length was greater in southern populations than in northern ones. Geographic latitude and temperature were the variables that best explained this variation in females, whereas latitude and altitude above sea level offered the best explanation among males.

Keywords: Dragonfly, exuvia, population variation, prementum size, Portugal, Spain

Issue section: Original Article

Vol. 25

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