The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions
Current research on female colour polymorphism in Ischnura damselflies suggests that a balanced fitness trade-off between morphotypes contributes to the maintenance of polymorphism inside populations. The genetic inheritance system constitutes a key factor to understand morph fluctuation and fitness...
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PeerJ Inc.
2016-09-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/2380.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797420199418265600 |
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| author | Iago Sanmartín-Villar Adolfo Cordero-Rivera |
| author_facet | Iago Sanmartín-Villar Adolfo Cordero-Rivera |
| author_sort | Iago Sanmartín-Villar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Current research on female colour polymorphism in Ischnura damselflies suggests that a balanced fitness trade-off between morphotypes contributes to the maintenance of polymorphism inside populations. The genetic inheritance system constitutes a key factor to understand morph fluctuation and fitness. Ischnura genei, an endemic species of some Mediterranean islands, has three female colour morphs, including one androchrome (male-coloured) and two gynochromes. In this study, we reared two generations of I. genei under laboratory conditions and tested male behavioural responses to female colour morphs in the field. We recorded ontogenetic colour changes and studied morph frequency in three populations from Sardinia (Italy). Morph frequencies of laboratory crosses can be explained by a model based on an autosomal locus with three alleles and sex-restricted expression, except for one crossing of 42 families with unexpected offspring. The allelic dominance relationship was androchrome > infuscans > aurantiaca. Old individuals reared in the laboratory exhibited different levels of melanism in variable extent depending on sex and morph. Results of model presentations indicate a male preference for gynochrome females and the lack of recognition of androchromes as potential mates. Aurantiaca females were the most frequent morph in the field (63–87%). Further studies in other populations and islands are needed to understand the maintenance of this polymorphism. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7bf6c7bb1a7d485d926b2e17cf1e21c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:59:11Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-7bf6c7bb1a7d485d926b2e17cf1e21c12023-12-03T09:58:15ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592016-09-014e238010.7717/peerj.2380The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditionsIago Sanmartín-Villar0Adolfo Cordero-Rivera1ECOEVO Lab, Universidade de Vigo, Pontevedra, Galiza, SpainECOEVO Lab, Universidade de Vigo, Pontevedra, Galiza, SpainCurrent research on female colour polymorphism in Ischnura damselflies suggests that a balanced fitness trade-off between morphotypes contributes to the maintenance of polymorphism inside populations. The genetic inheritance system constitutes a key factor to understand morph fluctuation and fitness. Ischnura genei, an endemic species of some Mediterranean islands, has three female colour morphs, including one androchrome (male-coloured) and two gynochromes. In this study, we reared two generations of I. genei under laboratory conditions and tested male behavioural responses to female colour morphs in the field. We recorded ontogenetic colour changes and studied morph frequency in three populations from Sardinia (Italy). Morph frequencies of laboratory crosses can be explained by a model based on an autosomal locus with three alleles and sex-restricted expression, except for one crossing of 42 families with unexpected offspring. The allelic dominance relationship was androchrome > infuscans > aurantiaca. Old individuals reared in the laboratory exhibited different levels of melanism in variable extent depending on sex and morph. Results of model presentations indicate a male preference for gynochrome females and the lack of recognition of androchromes as potential mates. Aurantiaca females were the most frequent morph in the field (63–87%). Further studies in other populations and islands are needed to understand the maintenance of this polymorphism.https://peerj.com/articles/2380.pdfPhenotypeFecundityColour changesReared generationsLaboratory effectsOdonata |
| spellingShingle | Iago Sanmartín-Villar Adolfo Cordero-Rivera The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions PeerJ Phenotype Fecundity Colour changes Reared generations Laboratory effects Odonata |
| title | The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| title_full | The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| title_fullStr | The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| title_short | The inheritance of female colour polymorphism in Ischnura genei (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| title_sort | inheritance of female colour polymorphism in ischnura genei zygoptera coenagrionidae with observations on melanism under laboratory conditions |
| topic | Phenotype Fecundity Colour changes Reared generations Laboratory effects Odonata |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/2380.pdf |
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