ABSTRACT
Los factores biomecánicos, el comportamiento e historia natural de las especies pueden influenciar la forma y dimensión del ala en las aves. Por lo tanto, la morfología de las alas de cada especie podría estar adaptada al ambiente en el que habitan. En palomas (familia Columbidae) existe un gradiente de especies que tienden a volar mucho y otras que vuelan muy poco. El objetivo de esta investigación es determinar si la forma de las alas de seis especies de palomas se asocia con su capacidad de vuelo. Predecimos que las especies Patagioenas flavirostris y P. nigrirostris que tienden a volar largas distancias presentan alas relativamente largas y puntiagudas; mientras que Geotrygon montana que se desplaza principalmente caminando presenta alas relativamente anchas y redondeadas. Especies con capacidad de vuelo intermedio (Leptotila verreauxi, L. cassini y Zenaida asiatica) van a presentar alas con características intermedias. Estimamos la carga alar, proporción de la forma, conicidad alar, largo relativo y el área alar promedio para cada especie. Realizamos un análisis discriminante para determinar cuál combinación de variables explica mejor la diferencia morfológica de las alas entre las seis especies y probamos que tan robusto es este modelo mediante una prueba binomial. El modelo clasificó correctamente el 57 % de los individuos en su propia especie. Por lo tanto, encontramos que el tipo de desplazamiento predominante en cada una de las seis especies de Columbidae analizadas, se asocia con la morfología alar: alas adaptadas para vuelos en zonas abiertas en P. flavirostris y P. nigrirostris, alas adaptadas para vuelos muy maniobrables en hábitats densos en G. montana, y alas con características intermedias en L. verreauxi, L. cassini y Z. asiatica.
Biomechanics, behavior, and natural history influence wing dimension and shape. Wing design often correlates with features of the habitat in which each species is found. Doves and pigeons (Columbidae family) range from long-distance fliers (e.g., canopy and open area species) to very short-distance fliers (e.g., species adapted to dense understory forests) and such variation makes this group fit to test the association between flying habits and wing morphology. Our objective in this study is to determine whether the wing morphology (shape and dimensions) of six dove species is associated to their flying capability. We predict that the long-distance fliers Patagioenas flavirostris and P. nigrirostris will have long and sharp wings; while the very short-distance flier Geotrygon montana will have broad and rounded wings. Other species (e.g., Leptotila verreauxi, L. cassini and Zenaida asiatica) whose flying capability fits in between these two will have wings with intermediate morphological features. We measured the wing disc loading, shape ratio, the ratio of mean to maximum wing chord, relative wing length, and wing area for each species. We conducted a discriminant function analysis to compare which variables explain better the differences in wing morphology across the six species, and used a binomial test to evaluate the power of the model. The model correctly classified 57 % of individuals within their own species. The flying capability is associated with the wing morphology of the six Columbidae species; with a wing design for long-distance fliers in P. flavirostris and P. nigrirostris, wing design for maneuvering in dense habitats in G. montana, and wings with an intermediate design in L. verreauxi, L. cassini and Z. asiatica.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Sexual shape dimorphism is the differentiation of male and female organisms based on their shape variation; this definition was proposed for the use of geometric morphometrics analysis where the geometric features of the shape are analyzed without the influence of the size. Macaria mirthae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) is a moth that inhabits different valleys in the north of Chile principally associated to Acacia macracantha and lately Leucaena leucocephala both trees of the Fabaceae family. The Sexual dimorphism was analyzed in this species in order to corroborate studies on the use of wing as a sexual differentiation trait, and specific influence of localities was also evaluated. A clear shape variation was found where the male wings are more contracted compared to female wings. A climate influence is also suggested that could differentiate the wing shape from the individuals that inhabit two different valleys in the neotropical region of the north of Chile. This research supports previous studies identifying a clear Sexual shape dimorphism in the wing, as a selected trait, suggesting that oviposition and male competition of this group of moths is reflected in their wings. These differences raise the question whether Sexual shape dimorphism can be modulated by natural selection.