Structural coloration predicts the outcome of male contests in the Amazonian damselfly Chalcopteryx scintillans (Odonata: Polythoridae)

Autor(es)

Guillermo-Ferreira, Rhainer ^{[1, 2, 3, 4]} ; Bispo, Pitagoras C. ^[2] ; Appel, Esther ^[3] ; Kovalev, Alexander ^[3] ; Gorb, Stanislav N. ^[3]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Biol Dept, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Dept Biol Sci, Assis, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Kiel, Zool Inst, Dept Funct Morphol & Biomech, Bot Garten 1-9, D-24098 Kiel - Germany

^[4] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Hydrobiol, Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT; v. 53, NOV 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Iridescence is an optical effect that produces angle dependent coloration in animals. Recently, studies have attempted to unveil structures behind such elaborated visual signals and associated behaviors in Odonata. Here, we studied males of the Amazonian damselfly Chalcopteryx scintillans, which have hindwings that exhibit pronounced iridescence. This optical feature is used by the damselflies for intraspecific communication during territorial fights and courtship. The main question we addressed was whether male wing structural coloration may predict the outcome of male-male contests. We also studied the wing ultrastructure, in order to reveal the mechanisms that are responsible for wing coloration. Using various microscopal and spectroscopal techniques, we demonstrate that hindwing coloration is derived from two main effects: (1) light interference in the cuticle multilayer and (2) a specific angle dependent light scattering and antireflective properties of the epicuticular wax coverage. The results of our field experiment show that wing pigmentation and the hue of the dorsal surface of the hindwings is correlated with the outcome of territorial contests. This is one of the first studies showing that structural coloration derived from multilayer interference may influence the outcome of intrasexual agonistic interactions. This indicates that multicomponent structural coloration in visually guided insects may be under selective forces of male-male competition for resources and females. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 12/21196-8 - Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera e Trichoptera (Insecta): reduzindo os déficits Linneano, Wallaceano e Henningueano
• Beneficiário: Pitágoras da Conceição Bispo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 13/00406-7 - Evolução da interação entre caracteres morfológicos e comportamentais em Odonata da região neotropical
• Beneficiário: Rhainer Guillermo Nascimento Ferreira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado