Seasonal differences in body mass and circulating metabolites in a wing‐dimorphic pygmy grasshopper: implications for life history?

Lehmann, Gerlind U. C.; Marco, Heather G.; Lehmann, Arne W.; GÄde, Gerd

doi:10.1111/een.12647

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…The lack of genetic differentiation (see Hawlitschek et al 2017 ) is equally congruent with bipunctata and kraussi being two young species or representing ecomorphs of a single species. Polymorphism, especially regarding wing length, is a well-known phenomenon in Tetrigidae , for example, in the well-studied Tetrix subulata ( Steenman et al 2013 , 2015 ; Lehmann et al 2018 ). To complicate the situation, a macropterous morph is documented for bipunctata ( Devriese 1996 ; Schulte 2003 ; this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two species? – Limits of the species concepts in the pygmy grasshoppers of the Tetrix bipunctata complex (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

Moser¹,

Baur²,

Lehmann³

et al. 2021

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Today, integrative taxonomy is often considered the gold standard when it comes to species recognition and delimitation. Using the Tetrix bipunctata complex, we here present a case where even integrative taxonomy may reach its limits. The Tetrix bipunctata complex consists of two morphs, bipunctata and kraussi, which are easily distinguished by a single character, the length of the hind wing. Both morphs are widely distributed in Europe and reported to occur over a large area in sympatry, where they occasionally may live also in syntopy. The pattern has led to disparate classifications, as on the one extreme, the morphs were treated merely as forms or subspecies of a single species, on the other, as separate species. For this paper, we re-visited the morphology by using multivariate ratio analysis (MRA) of 17 distance measurements, checked the distributional data based on verified specimens and examined micro-habitat use. We were able to confirm that hind wing length is, indeed, the only morphological difference between bipunctata and kraussi. We were also able to exclude a mere allometric scaling. The morphs are, furthermore, largely sympatrically distributed, with syntopy occurring regularly. However, a microhabitat niche difference can be observed. Ecological measurements in a shared habitat confirm that kraussi prefers a drier and hotter microhabitat, which possibly also explains the generally lower altitudinal distribution. Based on these results, we can exclude classification as subspecies, but the taxonomic classification as species remains unclear. Even with different approaches to classify the Tetrix bipunctata complex, this case is, therefore, not settled. We recommend continuing to record kraussi and bipunctata separately.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Two species? – Limits of the species concepts in the pygmy grasshoppers of the Tetrix bipunctata complex (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

Moser¹,

Baur²,

Lehmann³

et al. 2021

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“…Tetrix subulata is one of the most widespread groundhopper species in Europe (Holst, 1986). The body length of adults ranges from 10 to 14 mm, and females are usually larger than males (Steenman, Lehmann & Lehmann, 2013;Steenman, Lehmann & Lehmann, 2015;Lehmann et al, 2018). This species is active from March to the end of October in Central Europe (Holst, 1986, Kočárek, Holuša & Vidlička, 2005, when nymphs hatch in summer (August), molt to adulthood in autumn, hibernate and reproduce in spring.…”

Section: Insectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This species is active from March to the end of October in Central Europe (Holst, 1986, Kočárek, Holuša & Vidlička, 2005, when nymphs hatch in summer (August), molt to adulthood in autumn, hibernate and reproduce in spring. The adult season is split into the autumn dispersal-related cohort (Lehmann et al, 2018) and the reproducing spring cohort (Steenman, Lehmann & Lehmann, 2015). The groundhopper usually prefers damp places, and it is often found near rivers in moist habitats (Baur, Baur & Roesti, 2006).…”

Section: Insectmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy balance of food in a detrito-bryophagous groundhopper (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

Kuřavová

Šipoš

Kočárek

2020

PeerJ

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Detritus (decaying organic matter) and phyllodes of mosses are two main components in the diet of groundhoppers (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae). We studied the energy balance of consumed food under laboratory conditions in the detrito-bryophagous groundhopper, Tetrix subulata (Linnaeus, 1758). The results indicated that the energy food budget of this detrito-bryophagous groundhopper was comparable to those of small herbivorous grasshoppers (Acrididae: Gomphocerinae, Melanoplinae), which have a similar energy food budget of approximately 800–1,100 J/g. T. subulata consumed four times more detritus than mosses, although both components provided similar amounts of energy (ca. 15–16 kJ/g). However, in contrast with detritus, moss fragments passed through the digestive tract without a distinct change in their mass or a loss in their energy value. We assume that moss may cause the longer retention of semifluid mass of partly digested food in the alimentary tract; hence, the digestion and efficiency of nutrient absorption from detritus could be more effective.

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“…Previous studies were based on relatively low numbers of populations and, therefore, relatively few different locations. Berggren et al (2012) sampled 13 populations between 2006 and 2010; Steenman et al (2013, 2015) sampled 10 populations between 2003 and 2011 and Hochkirch et al (2000) and Lehmann et al (2018) only examined single populations. To efficiently obtain data on populations from a more diverse set of habitats and locations, citizen science observations could be used.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping wing morphs of Tetrix subulata using citizen science data: Flightless groundhoppers are more prevalent in grasslands near water

Willighagen,

Jongejans

2024

Insect Conserv Diversity

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The slender groundhopper (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) Tetrix subulata (Linnaeus, 1758), like several other taxa of winged insects, has a long‐winged and a short‐winged form, the latter incapable of flight. The optimal habitat of T. subulata consists of wet meadows and flat shores, as they feed mostly on algae and mosses in damp, sun‐exposed, open patches. Contrasting hypotheses predict either short‐ or long‐winged morphs to be relatively more prevalent in optimal habitats. Previous investigations were limited in their spatial extent. To strongly increase the number of study locations, we obtained, through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), geo‐referenced observations made by citizen scientists in the Netherlands. We determined individuals' wing form based on photographs accompanying these observations and related wing‐form patterns to large‐ and medium‐scale landscape characteristics. Our analyses revealed that in grasslands near the major rivers, relatively more short‐winged individuals were found. In drier landscapes consisting of coniferous forests and heath on the higher sand areas, more long‐winged individuals were observed. Built‐up areas had no significant effect on the wing length. These patterns might be caused by the oogenesis‐flight syndrome or small‐scale spatial sorting, but the exact mechanism is yet unknown, as size‐dependency might also play a role. Although opportunistic observations are biased by where and when observers prefer to go, and by reporting probabilities varying between species groups, these biases are not likely to have affected our conclusions. Citizen science data appear to be suitable for analyses of spatial distribution and sorting of morphological types within species.

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Seasonal differences in body mass and circulating metabolites in a wing‐dimorphic pygmy grasshopper: implications for life history?

Cited by 4 publications

References 45 publications

Two species? – Limits of the species concepts in the pygmy grasshoppers of the Tetrix bipunctata complex (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

Two species? – Limits of the species concepts in the pygmy grasshoppers of the Tetrix bipunctata complex (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

Energy balance of food in a detrito-bryophagous groundhopper (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae)

Mapping wing morphs of Tetrix subulata using citizen science data: Flightless groundhoppers are more prevalent in grasslands near water

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