A functional understanding of how phenotypic traits may affect growth, reproduction and survival is necessary to understand their ecological and evolutionary consequences. Larval dragonflies (Odonata: Anisoptera) swim using jet propulsion, likely controlled by abdominal traits and perhaps to escape fish predators. I investigated whether abdominal morphology explains swimming performance and if either explains the distribution of larvae among ponds that vary in predation risk. I recorded and measured the swimming performance of dragonflies responding to simulated attack and tested relationships with abdominal traits expected to influence jet thrust force generation. Variation in swimming performance was explained by abdomen dry weight, ventral surface area, and abdominal segment 10 width across genera as hypothesized. High-performance dragonflies were more likely to occur in ponds containing predatory fish. This is the first investigation of the morphology responsible for jet propulsion, and the relationship between swimming performance and larval dragonfly ecology.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:OGU.10214/3219 |
| Date | 23 December 2011 |
| Creators | Edwards, G. Morgan |
| Contributors | Robinson, Beren |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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