Variation in body size among populations of the bushcricket Poecilimon thessalicus (Orthoptera: Phaneropteridae): an ecological adaptation

We analyzed geographical variation in body size in males and females of nine Greek populations of the bushcricket Poecilimon thessalicus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891. We found significant geographic variability in P. thessalicus, with all three morphometric body-size characters (hind femur, front tib...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of orthoptera research 2008-07, Vol.17 (2), p.165-169
Main Authors: Lehmann, Gerlind U. C, Lehmann, Arne W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body size
Distribution
Ecological genetics
Environmental aspects
Female animals
Femur
geographic variation
Growing seasons
Katydids
Male animals
Mating behavior
Morphological variation
Mountain ranges
Orthoptera
Phaneropteridae
Physiological aspects
Population geography
Population size
protandry
Rensch's rule
spermatophore
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Summary:We analyzed geographical variation in body size in males and females of nine Greek populations of the bushcricket Poecilimon thessalicus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1891. We found significant geographic variability in P. thessalicus, with all three morphometric body-size characters (hind femur, front tibia, and pronotum) highly correlated within populations. Populations differed in mean size between three mountain ranges, and were larger on moist eastern, than on dry western slopes. We suggest that the observed smaller size of the bushcrickets on western slopes is mainly the consequence of a shorter growing season due to summer drying on western slopes. Sex-specific growth rates might contribute to the observed smaller body size in males in all populations. Rensch's rule that sexual size dimorphism (SSD) decreases as body size increases is supported, with males growing relatively larger compared to females in populations with larger body sizes. This pattern might be sexually selected, as males that produce larger nuptial gifts are favored as mates in Poecilimon bushcrickets.
ISSN:1082-6467
1937-2426
DOI:10.1665/1082-6467-17.2.165