Ecomorphological variation of the Triatoma guasayana wing shape in semi-arid Chaco region

Fiad, Federico Gastón; Cardozo, Miriam; Rodríguez, Claudia; Hernández, María Laura; Crocco, Liliana; Gorla, David Eladio

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106488

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…No differences in mean body size were found across the anthropogenic gradient for either males or females. These results suggest that seasonality may play a more important role than anthropization gradients in the process of body size selection [ 38 ]. Ecotopes used by this species for shelters, including dry logs and bromeliads, have limited capacity to buffer external temperatures and humidity [ 7 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The taxonomic identification of the collected triatomines was carried out by observing their external morphology using the keys of Lent and Wygodzinsky [ 36 ] and Jurberg et al [ 37 ]. To reduce seasonal variation, only insects found at the beginning of the summer season were analyzed [ 38 ]. A total of 104 specimens of T. garciabesi (53 females and 51 males) and 312 specimens of T. guasayana (210 females and 102 males), were studied.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association between environmental gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in two species of triatomines

Fiad,

Cardozo,

Nattero

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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Background Triatoma garciabesi and T. guasayana are considered secondary vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi and frequently invade rural houses in central Argentina. Wing and head structures determine the ability of triatomines to disperse. Environmental changes exert selective pressures on populations of both species, promoting changes in these structures that could have consequences for flight dispersal. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in flight-related traits. Methods The research was carried out in Cruz del Eje and Ischilín departments (Córdoba, Argentina) and included 423 individuals of the two species of triatomines. To measure the degree of anthropization, a thematic map was constructed using supervised classification, from which seven landscapes were selected, and nine landscape metrics were extracted and used in a hierarchical analysis. To determine the flight capacity and the invasion of dwellings at different levels of anthropization for both species, entomological indices were calculated. Digital images of the body, head and wings were used to measure linear and geometric morphometric variables related to flight dispersion. One-way ANOVA and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were used to analyze differences in size and shape between levels of anthropization. Procrustes variance of shape was calculated to analyze differences in phenotypic variation in heads and wings. Results Hierarchical analysis was used to classify the landscapes into three levels of anthropization: high, intermediate and low. The dispersal index for both species yielded similar results across the anthropization gradient. However, in less anthropized landscapes, the density index was higher for T. garciabesi. Additionally, in highly anthropized landscapes, females and males of both species exhibited reduced numbers. Regarding phenotypic changes, the size of body, head and wings of T. garciabesi captured in the most anthropized landscapes was greater than for those captured in less anthropized landscapes. No differences in body size were observed in T. guasayana collected in the different landscapes. However, males from highly anthropized landscapes had smaller heads and wings than those captured in less anthropized landscapes. Both wing and head shapes varied between less and more anthropogenic environments in both species. Conclusions Results of the study indicate that the flight-dispersal characteristics of T. garciabesi and T. guasayana changed in response to varying degrees of anthropization. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between environmental gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in two species of triatomines

Fiad,

Cardozo,

Nattero

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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“…Our results of the morphological aspect of wings showed that females with developed flight muscles exhibited bigger wings, with an aspect more elongated and thin than that of females without flight muscles. For Triatoma guasayana Wygodzinsky and Abalos, 1949, depending on the period of the year, the individuals present elongated and thin wings, which were suggested to allow sustained long-duration flights, and short and wide wings, which would be related to short flights (Fiad et al, 2022). The study of wing modularity and morphological aspect provides coincident results in that females with developed flight muscles have certain differential characteristics in their wings that suggest an enhanced flight performance.…”

Section: Modularity and Morphological Aspect Of The Wingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between flight muscle dimorphism and wing morphometry in Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

et al. 2023

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Triatoma infestans, the primary vector of Chagas disease in southern South America, is reported as a dimorphic species for flight muscle development and presents a marked phenotypic plasticity in traits related to flight. In triatomines, studying the relationship between flight muscle development and wing variation is important, since it involves flight capacity and dispersion. Therefore, we examined the association between flight muscle dimorphism and morphological wing variation in T. infestans individuals. We hypothesized that if the underdeveloped flight muscle were associated with a decrease in wing developmental stability, canalization and morphological aspect of wings, and with a loss of wing modularity, then wing variation would be associated with flight muscle dimorphism. Wing size and shape were characterized using geometric morphometrics. Patterns of canalization, developmental instability, and modularity were inferred from fluctuating asymmetry analysis of wing shape. Morphological aspects of wings were estimated using maximum wing length and wing area. The results showed that there are differences in wing shape but not in wing size among groups. Canalization and developmental stability were positively associated in individuals with muscle development and negatively associated in individuals with underdeveloped flight muscles. The covariance structure of variation among individuals was different between groups but not for fluctuating asymmetry, both for females and males. Modularity hypothesis related to the wing subdivision into two parts, a stiff part and a membranous one, showed significant association for the variation among individuals and fluctuating asymmetry variation in females with flight muscles. Wing aspect showed that females with flight muscles exhibited more elongated and thinner wings than those without flight muscles. The results obtained in this study reveal an association between flight muscle development and forewing variation in T. infestans. Females with flight muscles have certain differential characteristics in their wings that would be related to an enhanced flight performance.

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“…For example, in butterflies and damsflies, elongated and narrow wings determine greater deformation capacity with lower energy cost for long distance flights, whereas short and broad forewings are compatible with short, slow and less stable flight [ 37 , 38 ]. Although wing morphology in triatomines is quite different, for T. guasayana , elongated and thin wings were suggested to allow sustained long-duration flights, and short and wide wings would be related to short flights [ 39 ]. Wing aspect (4 × [wing length 2 /wing area]) is also an indicator of flight capacity, with individuals having high values of this parameter being able to fly faster and farther than individuals with low wing aspect values [ 40 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship between genetic diversity and morpho-functional characteristics of flight-related traits in Triatoma garciabesi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Verly,

Pita,

Carbajal-de-la-Fuente

et al. 2024

Parasites Vectors

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Background Triatoma garciabesi, a potential vector of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is the causative agent of Chagas disease, is common in peridomestic and wild environments and found throughout northwestern and central Argentina, western Paraguay and the Bolivian Chaco. Genetic differentiation of a species across its range can help to understand dispersal patterns and connectivity between habitats. Dispersal by flight is considered to be the main active dispersal strategy used by triatomines. In particular, the morphological structure of the hemelytra is associated with their function. The aim of this study was to understand how genetic diversity is structured, how morphological variation of dispersal-related traits varies with genetic diversity and how the morphological characteristics of dispersal-related traits may explain the current distribution of genetic lineages in this species. Methods Males from 24 populations of T. garciabesi across its distribution range were examined. The cytochrome c oxidase I gene (coI) was used for genetic diversity analyses. A geometric morphometric method based on landmarks was used for morpho-functional analysis of the hemelytra. Centroid size (CS) and shape of the forewing, and contour of both parts of the forewing, the head and the pronotum were characterised. Length and area of the forewing were measured to estimate the aspect ratio. Results The morphometric and phylogenetic analysis identified two distinct lineages, namely the Eastern and Western lineages, which coincide with different ecological regions. The Eastern lineage is found exclusively in the eastern region of Argentina (Chaco and Formosa provinces), whereas the Western lineage is prevalent in the rest of the geographical range of the species. CS, shape and aspect ratio of the hemelytra differed between lineages. The stiff portion of the forewing was more developed in the Eastern lineage. The shape of both portions of the hemelytra were significantly different between lineages, and the shape of the head and pronotum differed between lineages. Conclusions The results provide preliminary insights into the evolution and diversification of T. garciabesi. Variation in the forewing, pronotum and head is congruent with genetic divergence. Consistent with genetic divergence, morphometry variation was clustered according to lineages, with congruent variation in the size and shape of the forewing, pronotum and head. Graphical Abstract

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Ecomorphological variation of the Triatoma guasayana wing shape in semi-arid Chaco region

Cited by 5 publications

References 55 publications

Association between environmental gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in two species of triatomines

Association between environmental gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in two species of triatomines

Relationship between flight muscle dimorphism and wing morphometry in Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Relationship between genetic diversity and morpho-functional characteristics of flight-related traits in Triatoma garciabesi (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

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