Eur. J. Entomol. 102 (4): 707-712, 2005

Fluctuating asymmetry, body size, reproductive period and life time mating success of males of Cercion lindeni (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Gianmaria CARCHINI1, Marco Di DOMENICO1, Flavia CHIAROTTI2, Carla TANZILLI1, Tiziana PACIONE1
1 Dipartimento di Biologia, UniversitL "Tor Vergata", via della Ricerca scientifica snc, I-00133, Rome, Italy; e-mail carchini@uniroma2.it
2 Istituto Superiore di SanitL, Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare e Neuroscienze, Viale Regina Elena 299, I-00161, Rome, Italy

Mating success is linked to reproductive success in males, but parameters influencing it are poorly known. The relationships between lifetime mating success (LMS), fluctuating asymmetry (FA), body size (SIZE), reproductive period (RP) and emergence date (MD) of males of Cercion lindeni were investigated. Males were marked and photographed in their pre-reproductive period, and their matings monitored. RP was assumed to be the period between the MD and the last sighting of each individual. Three different FA measures and the size of each individual were determined. The results showed that the individuals not present at the pond during the reproductive period had a higher FA (but not for meristic characters) than those present. For those individuals actually involved in reproductive activity, LMS was only positively correlated with RP, which was negatively related with MD, and this with SIZE.

Keywords: Life time mating success, body size, reproductive period, fluctuating asymmetry, Odonata, Coenagrionidae, dragonfly

Received: October 10, 2004; Revised: January 21, 2005; Accepted: May 9, 2005; Published: November 3, 2005  Show citation

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CARCHINI, G., DOMENICO, M.D., CHIAROTTI, F., TANZILLI, C., & PACIONE, T. (2005). Fluctuating asymmetry, body size, reproductive period and life time mating success of males of Cercion lindeni (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). EJE, 102(4), 707-712
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