Onychogomphus uncatus (Charpentier, 1840)

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of threatened invertebrate species is evaluated. Distribution, life cycles and species biology rewieved. In this chapter, Onychogomphus uncatus situation in Spain is analysed and mapped

Sympetrum flaveolum (Linnaeus, 1758)

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of threatened invertebrate species is evaluated. Distribution, life cycles and species biology rewieved. In this chapter, Sympetrum flaveolum situation in Spain is analysed and mapped

Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier, 1840)

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of threatened invertebrate species is evaluated. Distribution, life cycles and species biology rewieved. In this chapter, Coenagrion mercuriale situation in Spain is analysed and mapped

Coenagrion mercuriale

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of protected invertebrate species included in the Habitats Directive (European Union Directive 92/43/CEE) is evaluated. Bibliographic records are analysed in each bioregion, species biology, reproductive habitats and relationship with habitats included in Habitats Directive, percentages of populations within Nature 2000 network and their threats are evaluated with more details when are known. A monitoring program is proposed. In this chapter, populations of Coenagrion mercuriale are analysed

Gomphus graslinii

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of protected invertebrate species included in the Habitats Directive (European Union Directive 92/43/CEE) is evaluated. Bibliographic records are analysed in each bioregion, species biology, reproductive habitats and relationship with habitats included in Habitats Directive, percentages of populations within Nature 2000 network and their threats are evaluated with more details when are known. A monitoring program is proposed. In this chapter, populations of Coenagrion mercuriale are analysed. External Internet address of this chapter in the Ministry webpage http://bit.ly/13fmOx

Zygonyx torridus (Kirby, 1889)

Conservation status and Spanish distribution of threatened invertebrate species is evaluated. Distribution, life cycles and species biology rewieved. In this chapter, Zygonyx torridus situation in Spain is analysed and mapped

The jumping spider Saitis barbipes lacks a red photoreceptor to see its own sexually dimorphic red coloration

Examining the role of color in mate choice without testing what colors the study animal is capable of seeing can lead to ill-posed hypotheses and erroneous conclusions. Here, we test the seemingly reasonable assumption that the sexually dimorphic red coloration of the male jumping spider Saitis barbipes is distinguishable, by females, from adjacent black color patches. Using microspectrophotometry, we find clear evidence for photoreceptor classes with maximal sensitivity in the UV (359 nm) and green (526 nm), inconclusive evidence for a photoreceptor maximally sensitive in the blue (451 nm), and no evidence for a red photoreceptor. No colored filters within the lens or retina could be found to shift green sensitivity to red. To quantify and visualize whether females may nevertheless be capable of discriminating red from black color patches, we take multispectral images of males and calculate photoreceptor excitations and color contrasts between color patches. Red patches would be, at best, barely discriminable from black, and not discriminable from a low-luminance green. Some color patches that appear achromatic to human eyes, such as beige and white, strongly absorb UV wavelengths and would appear as brighter “spider-greens” to S. barbipes than the red color patches. Unexpectedly, we discover an iridescent UV patch that contrasts strongly with the UV-absorbing surfaces dominating the rest of the spider. We propose that red and black coloration may serve identical purposes in sexual signaling, functioning to generate strong achromatic contrast with the visual background. The potential functional significance of red coloration outside of sexual signaling is discussed

Distribution of the Iberian Calopteryx Damselflies and Its Relation with Bioclimatic Belts: Evolutionary and Biogeographic Implications

Using bioclimatic belts as habitat and distribution predictors, the present study examines the implications of the potential distributions of the three Iberian damselflies, Calopteryx Leach (Odonata: Calopterygidae), with the aim of investigating the possible consequences in specific interactions among the species from a sexual selection perspective and of discussing biogeographical patterns. To obtain the known distributions, the literature on this genus was reviewed, relating the resulting distributions to bioclimatic belts. Specific patterns related to bioclimatic belts were clearly observed in the Mediterranean region. The potential distribution maps and relative frequencies might involve latitudinal differences in relative abundances, C. virgo meridionalis Sélys being the most abundant species in the Eurosiberian region, C. xanthostoma (Charpentier) in the northern half of the Mediterranean region and C. haemorrhoidalis (Vander Linden) in the rest of this region. These differences might explain some previously described latitudinal differences in secondary sexual traits in the three species. Changes in relative abundances may modulate interactions among these species in terms of sexual selection and may produce sexual character displacement in this genus. C. virgo meridionalis distribution and ecological requirements explain its paleobiogeography as a species which took refuge in Iberia during the Würm glaciation. Finally, possible consequences in species distributions and interactions are discussed within a global climate change context

Data from: Bird predation selects for wing shape and coloration in a damselfly

Wing shape is related to flight performance, which is expected to be under selection for improving flight behaviours such as predator avoidance. Moreover, wing conspicuousness, usually involved in sexual selection processes, is also relevant in terms of predation risk. In this study, we examined how predation by a passerine bird, the white wagtail Motacilla alba, selects wing shape and wing colour patch size in males of the banded demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. The wing colour patch is intra- and intersexually selected in the study species. In a field study, we compared wings of live damselflies to wings of predated damselflies which are always discarded after predation. Based on aerodynamic theory and a previous study on wing shape of territorial tactics in damselflies, we predicted an overall short and broad wing, with a concave front margin shape to be selected by predation. This shape would be expected to improve escaping ability. Moreover, we predicted that wing patch size should be negatively selected by predation. We found that selection operated differently on fore- and hindwings. In contrast to our predictions, predation favoured a slender general forewing shape. However, the predicted wing shape was favoured in hindwings. We also found selection favouring a narrower wing colour patch. Our results suggest different roles of fore- and hindwings in flight, as previously suggested for Calopteryx damselflies and shown for butterflies and moths. Forewings would be more involved in sustained flight and hindwings in flight manoeuvrability. Our results differ somehow from a recently published work in the same study system, but using another population, suggesting that selection can fluctuate across space, despite the simplicity of this predator–prey system