Seasonal Variation in the Shape of Hetaerina americana

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorVodopich, Darrell S.
dc.contributor.authorRosenthal, Elizabeth
dc.contributor.departmentBiology.en_US
dc.contributor.schoolsHonors College.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-20T17:08:10Z
dc.date.available2015-05-20T17:08:10Z
dc.date.copyright2014-11-24
dc.description.abstractThe ability to fly strongly contributes to the success of insects. The adaptive nature of wing size and shape dictates much of the organism’s success flying, both short-term (food and mate acquisition) and long-term (persistence of the species in the environment). Members of Order Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are among the most efficient and iconic fliers in the animal kingdom, and wing shape is among many factors contributing to their flight success. The quantitative science of morphometrics is the study and analysis of shape. My study takes a morphometric approach to investigate variation in wing shape for Hetaerina americana, a common species of damselfly in North America. Specifically, I focus on variation in wing shape between damselflies emerging in mid-spring after a winter-long larval development versus those emerging in late summer after a warmer, summer-long larval development. Analyses revealed that for both fore wings and hind wings winter developer wing shapes differ significantly from summer developer wing shapes. Fore wings vary in shape more distinctly by season than do hind wings. Summer developer fore wings are broader than those of winter developers, and summer developer hind wings are narrower. This variation in wing shape may be a consequence of seasonal circumstances (shorter, warmer development with a higher larval metabolic rate), or reveal an adaptive strategy for flight in air of varying temperatures. This latter strategy would indicate a genetic plasticity capable of producing wing shapes adaptive to seasonal variation.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2104/9273
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rightsBaylor University projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.en_US
dc.rights.accessrightsWorldwide accessen_US
dc.subjectMorphologyen_US
dc.subjectAquatic Entomologyen_US
dc.subjectDamselfliesen_US
dc.subjectWing Shapeen_US
dc.titleSeasonal Variation in the Shape of Hetaerina americanaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Seasonal Variation in the Shape of Hetaerina americana.pdf
Size:
884.73 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Thesis
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
Thesis Release Consent Form.pdf
Size:
878.73 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Consent Form
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.87 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Theses - Honors College