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Assessing the influence of allometry on sexual and non-sexual traits: An example in Cicindelidia trifasciata (Coleoptera: Cicindelinae) using geometric morphometrics

Based on a quantitative mathematical revolution, the study of morphology has had an important emphasis by developing statistical shape analysis. This made possible the combination of multivariate statistical methods and new ways to visualize a morphological structure. Patterns of allometry (shape influence on size) in sexual and non-sexual traits were examined in adults of Cicindelidia trifasciata Fabricius collected in north Chilean wetland, using geometric morphometric techniques. Abdomen, mandible and wing shapes were analyzed using 16, 12 and 19 morphological landmarks. Sexual and nonsexual traits differences were found after a principal component analysis, however, most of them were ascribable to sexual size dimorphism. A multivariate regression analysis of shape on size of the abdomen, mandible and wing shapes showed high levels of allometry in C. trifasciata. Static allometry in the sexual traits of C. trifasciata is a common pattern, being the size an important trait that plays an important role during the sexual selection in this species. These differences raise the question of whether sexual dimorphism of sexual traits may be modulated by natural selection.

Geometric morphometrics ; Sexual shape dimorphism ; Tiger beetle ; Sexual traits

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