Lifetime mating success, survivorship and synchronized reproduction in the damselfly ischnura pumilio (odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Abstract

This paper is dedicated to Philip S. Corbet on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Abstract A small population of Ischnura pumilio in NW Spain was studied by marking and resighting in August-September 1996. A total of 142 males and 100 females were captured. Adults of I. pumilio appeared in two clear groups, starting on 31 August and 10 September. Population size was estimated about 1-2 individuals from 14 to 30 August but suddenly increased to 30-50 males and 40-120 females from 31 August to 13 September. A large fraction of males (43.6%) were never seen to mate, but only 13 females were never seen in copula. Androchrome females were rare (14 females) and did not differ from gynochrome females in fitness correlates. Copulation duration ranged from 1 to 5 h, and was dependent on time of day. The analysis of survival and recapture rates indicates that males and females have similar survivorship, but sex had a significant effect on recapture probability. © 1999 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.