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Do It Well or Not at All: Alternative Flight Solutions for Alpine Insects
Graham A McCulloch1, Brodie J Foster1, Travis Ingram1
1Department of Zoology University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand.
Ecology and Evolution
|December 4, 2024
Summary
Alpine stoneflies show varied wing adaptations. One Zelandoperla fenestrata clade reduced wings with elevation, while another increased wing size, revealing diverse evolutionary responses to mountain environments.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Entomology
Background:
- Alpine ecosystems pose significant evolutionary challenges for flying insects.
- Wing reduction is a common adaptation, but some species evolve larger wings for improved flight in harsh conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adaptive strategies of two Zelandoperla fenestrata stonefly clades in response to alpine environments.
- To understand how wing length evolves with elevation in closely related insect lineages.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of wing length variation across different elevations.
- Study focused on two distinct clades of Zelandoperla fenestrata.
Main Results:
- Clade 1 (southern South Island) exhibited a sharp decrease in wing length with increasing elevation.
- Clade 2 (northern South Island, North Island) showed an increase in wing length with increasing elevation.
Conclusions:
- Closely related lineages can display contrasting evolutionary adaptations to similar environmental pressures.
- Diverse adaptive pathways exist for flying species colonizing upland environments.
