The Effects of Locality and Host Plant on the Body Size of Aeolothrips intermedius (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) in the Southwest of Poland

Aeolothrips intermedius is a thrips predator often found in phytocoenoses worldwide. Both the adults and larvae of this species prey on small invertebrates, including phytophagous species from Thysanoptera group. The aim of this study was to determine the morphological variability of the A. intermedius relative to the locality and, indirectly, to the species of host plant. Insects were collected from five localities in southwest Poland and five different host plants. For each of the sexes, six morphometric features were assessed: body length, length of antennae, wing length, head length, head width and length of pronotum. Additionally, the body mass for each individual was estimated. The findings revealed that in females, both the locality and host plant had a significant impact on almost all of these features. In males, the morphometric features under study correlated strongly with locality and only moderately with the host plant. Certain differences were observed between males and females, mainly in terms of antennae length. The results show that A. intermedius exhibits significant variability in this respect, which is indicative of the species’ phenotypic plasticity. The body length was the trait with the most distinct response to the locality and host plant.

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Morphological variability of Bembidion varium (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in gradient of soil salinity

Folia Oecologica ◽

10.2478/foecol-2020-0004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 23-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Viktoriia Komlyk ◽

Viktor Brygadyrenko

Keyword(s):

Body Length ◽

Soil Salinity ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

The Body ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Head Width ◽

Maximum Width ◽

Angular Characteristic ◽

Males And Females ◽

Natural And Anthropogenic Factors

AbstractThis article discusses the effect of soil salinity on the variability of Bembidion (Notaphus) varium (Oliver, 1795). The authors of the article collected imagoes of this species in five ecosystems that differed in soil salinity; 13 linear characteristics, one angular characteristic and 6 morphometric indices were measured. Significant changes in six linear parameters of B. varium (body length, head length and width, width of prothorax between front angles, maximum width of prothorax and elytra width) and two morphometric indices are observed in the considered ecosystems. Soil salinity probably has the most impact on the variability of these characteristics. However, the influence of other important natural and anthropogenic factors is not ruled out. Significant differences between the sexes are observed for all linear parameters: females of B. varium are larger than males. There are no differences between males and females in morphometric indices. The head width, prothorax length and width, elytra length and width depend on the body length of B. varium individuals. The morphological variability of B. varium under the influence of other environmental factors needs further research.

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Morphological variability of Bembidion aspericolle (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations in conditions of anthropogenic impact

Biosystems Diversity ◽

10.15421/011903 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

V. O. Komlyk ◽

V. V. Brygadyrenko

Keyword(s):

Body Length ◽

Anthropogenic Impact ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

The Body ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Head Width ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Angular Characteristic ◽

Western Palearctic ◽

The Impact

Bembidion (Talanes) aspericolle (Germar, 1829) is a Western Palearctic species which lives on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas and saline inland habitats from Central Europe to Central Asia. Anthropogenic impact is one of the most important environmental factors affecting the morphological variability of ground beetles. The objective of our research is assessment of the morphological variability of this species in three ecosystems differing by intensity of anthropogenic impact. 13 linear characteristics, one angular characteristic, density of pores on the prothorax and elytra, contrast of spots on the beetles’ elytra were measured, and 6 morphometric indices were calculated. The mean value of body length in females is more than in males in the studied populations. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic pressure, female body length is shorter by 3.7% and elytra length is shorter by 6.0% than in females in the ecosystem with low anthropogenic impact. Differences between populations in the body length of males are not significant. In the ecosystem with high anthropogenic transformation, sexual dimorphism is observed only on head and prothorax width. The ratio of maximum width of elytra to maximum prothorax width decreases significantly with increasing anthropogenic load. The impact of anthropogenic factors on the ecosystem produces significant changes in elytra length and head width of B. aspericolle and in four of the six morphometric indices. It is reasonable to use these morphometric characteristics of B. aspericolle adults in bioindication. The complex of anthropogenic factors does not have a significant impact on the value of anterior and posterior angles of prothorax, density of prothorax and elytra puncturing and contrast of the light spots at the top of the elytra. The sex of the specimen influences all linear characteristics. The absence of significant differences in morphometric indices between males and females shows that the body proportions of the beetles remain unchanged and only linear dimensions vary. Research on the morphological variability of B. aspericolle is important for understanding microevolutionary processes in populations of beetles under anthropogenically induced changes in the environment.

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Patterns of Growth in Nestling Indian Barn-Owls

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/104.4.885 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 104 (4) ◽

pp. 885-890 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rajarathinavelu Nagarajan ◽

Krishinamoorthy Thiyagesan ◽

Rajagopalan Natarajan ◽

Ramalingam Kanakasabai

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

Body Length ◽

Wing Length ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

The Body ◽

Logistic Growth ◽

Adult Size ◽

Tyto Alba ◽

Tarsus Length ◽

Bill Length

Abstract We examined nestling growth patterns of the Indian Barn-Owl (Tyto alba stertens) in Tamilnadu, Southern India, with reference to body mass, body length, bill length, bill width, wing length, wingspan, tail length, tarsus length, and middle claw length. Body mass reached an asymptote of 447.0 ± 6.8 g during week 7, which was 10% higher than the adult mass. Then it significantly declined to 437.0 ± 10.9 g at fledging. At the end of week 4, the body length, bill length, bill width, tarsus length, and middle toe length had surpassed 50% of adult sizes. The wingspan and tarsus length reached almost adult size by the time of fledging. A logistic growth curve was found to be a good fit for all the growth variables and explained between 71% (wing length) and 86% (body length) of the variance. Patrones de Crecimiento en Polluelos de Tyto alba stertens Resumen. Examinamos los patrones de crecimiento de polluelos de Tyto alba stertens en Tamilnadu, sudoeste de India, en relación al peso y el largo del cuerpo, el largo y el ancho del pico, el largo del ala y su envergadura, y el largo de la cola, los tarsos y de la garra mediana. El peso corporal alcanzó una asíntota de 447.0 ± 6.8 g durante la séptima semana, el cual fue un 10% mayor que el peso de los adultos. Posteriormente, durante el período de volantones, el peso corporal disminuyó hasta 437.0 ± 10.9 g. Al final de la cuarta semana, el largo del cuerpo, el largo y el ancho del pico, y los largos del tarso y del dedo mediano habían sobrepasado el 50% de los tamaños adultos. La envergadura del ala y el largo del tarso casi alcanzaron tamaños adultos durante el período de volantones. Se encontró que una curva de crecimiento logístico se ajustó bien a todas las variables de crecimiento y explicó un 71% (largo del ala) y un 86% (largo del cuerpo) de la varianza.

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SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN PSEUDOPUS APODUS (REPTILIA: SAURIA: ANGUIDAE) FROM THE STEPPE CRIMEA

Ecologica Montenegrina ◽

10.37828/em.2018.19.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 1-21

Author(s):

Oleg V. Kukushkin ◽

Igor V. Dovgal

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Morphometric Parameters ◽

The Body ◽

Body Proportions ◽

Reliable Determination ◽

Kerch Peninsula ◽

The Crimea ◽

Males And Females ◽

Almost All

The current paper is focused on sexual dimorphism of a giant glass lizard, or sheltopusik, Pseudopus apodus apodus (Pallas, 1775) from its northernmost populations inhabiting the Crimea. In total, 72 P. apodus individuals (45 males and 27 females) were collected at the Kerch Peninsula during 2013–2017. To estimate the variability, 13 morphometric parameters and 18 indices characterizing the head and body proportions were used. It was found that males and females differed significantly by means of almost all parameters, except the body and tail sizes. Besides that, the differences by 10 ratios characterizing head proportions were revealed as well. However, a reliable determination of the lizard sex using linear sizes and/or ratios values seems to be impossible because of the strong overlap of the variability ranges in both sexes. At the same time, the use of the canonical discriminant analysis by the complex of morphometric parameters and by ratios has shown that the males and females in both datasets are classified correctly basing on the sex with an accuracy approximating 100%. The differences in the allometric growth of males and females partially define the sexual dimorphism of P. apodus on head size and shape. A sex-related differences in the development of at least one pair of parameters (head and snout lengths) were clearly evident, since isometry was established for males, while allometry ‒ for females. Moreover, the systems of correlation between the body and head parts differ in both sexes. Thus, male characterisitics correlate significanly, while the female ones were less toughly connected, and some pairs of parameters did not correlate at all.

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Prediction of body weights of Nellore sheep under field condition

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.6701 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

M. Rani ◽

B. Ekambaram ◽

B. Punya Kumari

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Length ◽

Age Groups ◽

The Body ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Regression Equations ◽

Body Weights ◽

Chest Girth ◽

Males And Females ◽

Nellore Sheep

Data on 1350 Nellore sheep of 2, 4, 6 and 8-teeth age, reared under field conditions in 12 mandals of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh were utilized for development of prediction equations and study the phenotypic association among body measurements and body weights. The coefficients of correlation between body weight with the height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length were positive and high in magnitude in both males and females in majority of the age groups studied. Step-down regression equations were fitted to predict the body weight based on biometrical measurements at different ages. The height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length have contributed significantly to the expression of body weights at the majority of the ages studied. High coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed in males at 6 and 8-teeth age as 88 per cent, while in females 50 per cent at 2-teeth age.

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Investigations of Variability of Morphometric Characteristics in Stone Crayfish in Order to Preserve Autochthonous Genome

Quality of Life (Banja Luka) - APEIRON ◽

10.7251/qol2001011r ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1-2) ◽

Author(s):

Rajko Roljić ◽

Vera Nikolić ◽

Nebojša Savić

Keyword(s):

Sexual Dimorphism ◽

Carapace Length ◽

Carapace Width ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

The Body ◽

Morphometric Characteristics ◽

Baited Traps ◽

Males And Females ◽

Austropotamobius Torrentium ◽

Stone Crayfish

This paper presents the information about morphological variability and sexual dimorphism of the stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) in the area of Korana River in Mrkonjic Grad. The crayfish were caught by hand made baited traps from October 2018 to May 2019. A total of 46 crayfish were caught, of which 33 males and 13 females. The dimensions of eight morphometric characteristics: body weight (W), body length (TBL), rostrum length (ROL), rostrum width (ROW), claw length (CLL), carapace length (CPL), carapace width (CPW) and abdomen length (ABL), were analyzed, both in males and females. Also, the body condition was determined for all individuales. The measurements results of morphometric characteristics partially matched into the alredy known range of variations. These data presens first ones for the observed area. By using Mann-Whitey U-test, it was noted that there are significant differences between the sexes for W, TBL, CLL, CPL, CPW and ABL. These resuls could be explained by sexual dimorphism of the stone crayfish.

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MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF NOBLE CRAYFISH Astacus astacus FROM THE BALKANA LAKE

University thought - Publication in Natural Sciences ◽

10.5937/univtho10-23098 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Rajko Roljić ◽

Vera Nikolić ◽

Nebojša Savić

Keyword(s):

Carapace Width ◽

Morphological Variability ◽

The Body ◽

Sex Dimorphism ◽

Morphometric Characteristics ◽

Astacus Astacus ◽

Baited Traps ◽

Noble Crayfish ◽

Cephalothorax Length ◽

Males And Females

This paper presents the information about morphological variability and sex dimorphism of the Noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) in the area of the Balkana Lake in Mrkonjic Grad. The crayfish were caught by hand made baited traps from October 9nd 2018. until May 31th 2019. A total of 58 crayfish were caught, of which 38 males and 20 females. The eight morphometric characteristics: body weight (W), body length (TBL), claw length (CLL), cephalothorax length (CFL), carapace width (CPW), abdomen length (ABL), rostrum length (ROL) and rostrum width (ROW) were measured, both in males and females. Also, the body condition was determined for all specimens. The results of morphometric characteristics partially matched into the already known range of variations. These data represent first ones for the observed area. The t-test showed that there were significant differences between the sexes in W, TBL, CLL, CFL and CPW which are explained by the emphasized sex dimorphism of the noble crayfish.

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Measures of relationships and association among body weight and biometric traits of donkeys in Northwest Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v46i1.1299 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 10-19

Author(s):

P. A. John ◽

A. O. Iyiola-Tunji

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Length ◽

Age Groups ◽

Selection Criterion ◽

Tail Length ◽

Neck Circumference ◽

The Body ◽

Head Width ◽

Linear Measurements ◽

Predicted Body Weight

Body linear measurements of different age categories of donkeys were used to predict the body weight of donkeys using stepwise regression procedure. This work was conducted to estimates the live body weight of donkeys from biometric traits. A total of 700 donkeys were measured into three age groups (weaners 6 months- 1 year, young above 1- 3 years and adults 3 years and above). Morphometric measures taken were body weight, head length, head width, ear length, neck length, neck circumference, shoulder width, height at withers, heart girth, body length and tail length using random sampling technique. Significant variations were observed in morphometric (P<0.05, P<0.01) traits. The results of the study showed that significantly (P<0.01) predicted body weight of these donkeys with good efficiencies were neck circumference (NC), tail length (TL) and body length (BL) were the best predictors of body weight with R2= 100% in weaners, head width (HWD), neck circumference (NL), neck circumference (NC) and height at withers (HW) with R2= 100% in young and HW, HG with R2 = 100% in adult category. The traits were significantly (p<0.05, 0.01) and positively correlated amongst themselves (r=0.09-0.87).It is therefore concluded that the inclusion of two variables improved the prediction marginally, but the addition of further variables gave little further improvement. The association may be useful as selection criterion, since positive correlations of traits suggest that the traits are under the same gene action (pleiotropy/linkage). It is therefore recommended that tail length, neck circumference, body length, height at withers and heart girth should be used as the best predictors of body weight across the sex and age categories of donkeys.

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Adaptation of flea beetles to Brassicaceae: host plant associations and geographic distribution of Psylliodes Latreille and Phyllotreta Chevrolat (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

ZooKeys ◽

10.3897/zookeys.856.33724 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 856 ◽

pp. 51-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Matilda W. Gikonyo ◽

Maurizio Biondi ◽

Franziska Beran

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Host Plants ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Flea Beetle ◽

Chemical Defence ◽

Plant Associations ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Related Plant ◽

Plant Families ◽

Almost All

The cosmopolitan flea beetle genera Phyllotreta and Psylliodes (Galerucinae, Alticini) are mainly associated with host plants in the family Brassicaceae and include economically important pests of crucifer crops. In this review, the host plant associations and geographical distributions of known species in these genera are summarised from the literature, and their proposed phylogenetic relationships to other Alticini analysed from published molecular phylogenetic studies of Galerucinae. Almost all Phyllotreta species are specialised on Brassicaceae and related plant families in the order Brassicales, whereas Psylliodes species are associated with host plants in approximately 24 different plant families, and 50% are specialised to feed on Brassicaceae. The current knowledge on how Phyllotreta and Psylliodes are adapted to the characteristic chemical defence in Brassicaceae is reviewed. Based on our findings we postulate that Phyllotreta and Psylliodes colonised Brassicaceae independently from each other.

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Gall-Inducing Tephritid Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Evolution and Host–Plant Relations

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.3389/fevo.2021.578323 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Valery A. Korneyev

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Host Plant ◽

Late Miocene ◽

Host Plants ◽

Larval Feeding ◽

Tissue Proliferation ◽

The Family ◽

Phylogenetic Lineages ◽

Almost All ◽

Gall Induction

The molecular-based phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Tephritinae, the subfamily that contains almost all the cecidogenous species of the family Tephritidae, has reassigned several tribes and groups of genera and modified their concepts based on morphology alone to other tribes and, thus, changed the hypothetical scenarios of evolution of fly/host–plant relations and, in particular, the gall induction in different phylogenetic lineages. Gall induction is shown to arise independently within the Myopitini (in two lineages), Cecidocharini, Tomoplagia group of genera, Eurostini, Eutreta, Tephritis group of genera, Platensinini, Campiglossa group of genera, and Sphenella group of genera independently and more or less synchronously due to the shift to host plants with smaller flower heads and sensitive to larval feeding causing tissue proliferation. This was possibly a result of temporary aridization of the grassy biomes in the Nearctic and Afrotropic regions in the late Miocene or early Pliocene.

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