CHANGE OF MORPHOMETRIC AND ALLOMETRIC PATTERNS ON WINGS OF BANDED DEMOISELLE (CALOPTERYX SPLENDENS) MALES IN CASE OF ECOLOGICALLY DIFFERENT WATERCOURSE TYPES

Abstract

In nature, dragonfly larvae living in watercourses are exposed to a complex system of environmental influences. Different watercourse types (creeks, brooks, streams, little rivers and medial rivers) are known to provide different conditions for larval development (water depth, flow rate, temperature, oxygen content, substrate type, nutrient supply, etc.). These conditions can vary significantly between watercourse types but can be very similar within types. This work examines the body sizes and wing morphometric characteristics of males of Calopteryx splendens reared from different watercourse types (brook, stream, creek, little river, medial river). Although there were no significant differences in body size depending on watercourse types, significant differences were found in the wing features. We found the greatest number of differences between the individuals reared from streams and creeks and the individuals reared from a stream and medial river. Our results show that the individuals reared from different watercourse types were different on the two wings. The results also suggest significant differences in the number and pattern of allometric features on the wings of individuals reared from different watercourse types.