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

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.

Geographical variation in size of the three final stadia of Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) larvae in the Iberian Peninsula (Odonata: Cordulegastridae)

“…Previous works have demonstrated that males and females of Iberian C. boltonii differ in larval biometry (Casanueva et al, 2020;Ferreras-Romero & Corbet, 1999). Females are larger in size than of males in both larvae and F-0 larva exuviae (Hernández et al, 2022).…”

“…Within the Iberian Peninsula, the sizes of some C. boltonii structures vary with the geographical situation of the individual populations. Indeed, the prementum sizes of F-0 exuviae are greater in southern populations than in northern ones, in both males and females (Hernández et al, 2022). El Haissoufi et al (2018 and Casanueva et al (2020) analyzed head width in exuviae of F-0 larvae (only females) from Iberia and North Africa and showed that those from the Rif Mountains (Morocco) are clearly larger than those inhabiting the Iberian Peninsula.…”

“…Little is known about how geographical location of a population may affect the biometric peculiarities of C. boltonii. Recently, differences in the wing venation between northern and southern Iberian Peninsula populations of C. boltonii have been found, which also differ with regard to the venation patterns found in European populations inhabiting regions outside that peninsula (Nunes et al, 2023). Likewise, Iberian populations differ regarding head width and prementum size in finalstage exuviae (Casanueva et al, 2020;Hernández et al, 2022).…”

“…Recently, differences in the wing venation between northern and southern Iberian Peninsula populations of C. boltonii have been found, which also differ with regard to the venation patterns found in European populations inhabiting regions outside that peninsula (Nunes et al, 2023). Likewise, Iberian populations differ regarding head width and prementum size in finalstage exuviae (Casanueva et al, 2020;Hernández et al, 2022). Larval growth rates of this species have not been analyzed until now on a broader geographical scale such as the Iberian Peninsula.…”

Biometric differences across three populations of Boyeria irene from the southern Iberian Peninsula (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

“…However, head width has been used in recent studies on Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) and B. irene exuviae (Casanueva et al . 2020; Nunes et al 2021a; Hernández et al 2022).…”