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<p>Exhaustive estimates of life history traits in wild populations are key for conservation and management, but they are sometimes challenging to obtain due to the considerable existent trait variation. Sampling across multiple habitat patches enables the detection of such variation, offering a more comprehensive understanding of species-level variation in traits. This study investigates how life history traits in the damselfly&#xa0;<i>Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis</i> differ among habitat patches in a lotic freshwater system. We tested the hypothesis that individuals emerging from different patches potentially exhibit distinct traits (phenology, body size, and seasonal patterns) even at the small spatial scale (&lt; 200&#xa0;m). We sampled exuviae from seven patches along a stream in northeastern Algeria during the emergence season of 2012. We recorded relative abundance, sex ratio, emergence phenology, and seasonal pattern of body size in each patch. We found significant variation among patches in exuviae relative abundance, emergence phenology, and seasonal trends in body size. The phenology of emergence varied among patches both in direction—some patches exhibited earlier emergence while others were delayed—and in magnitude, with differences of up to 15&#xa0;days. While body size at emergence remained largely consistent across patches, the seasonal pattern in size differed, with some patches showing strong temporal patterns (declines) and others showing none. Sex ratio was female-biased overall and did not differ significantly between patches. Our findings highlight the ecological relevance of spatial heterogeneity in traits and that incorporating spatial replicates is essential for accurately characterizing population-level patterns in freshwater ecosystems.</p>

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How patch selection shapes life history traits: insights from a damselfly emergence

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月3日

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  • Hichem Amari,
  • Hayat Mahdjoub,
  • Rabah Zebsa,
  • Abdeldjalil Youcefi,
  • Abdelheq Zouaimia,
  • Soufyane Bensouilah,
  • Zinette Bensakhri,
  • Affef Baaloudj,
  • Rassim Khelifa

摘要

Exhaustive estimates of life history traits in wild populations are key for conservation and management, but they are sometimes challenging to obtain due to the considerable existent trait variation. Sampling across multiple habitat patches enables the detection of such variation, offering a more comprehensive understanding of species-level variation in traits. This study investigates how life history traits in the damselfly Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis differ among habitat patches in a lotic freshwater system. We tested the hypothesis that individuals emerging from different patches potentially exhibit distinct traits (phenology, body size, and seasonal patterns) even at the small spatial scale (< 200 m). We sampled exuviae from seven patches along a stream in northeastern Algeria during the emergence season of 2012. We recorded relative abundance, sex ratio, emergence phenology, and seasonal pattern of body size in each patch. We found significant variation among patches in exuviae relative abundance, emergence phenology, and seasonal trends in body size. The phenology of emergence varied among patches both in direction—some patches exhibited earlier emergence while others were delayed—and in magnitude, with differences of up to 15 days. While body size at emergence remained largely consistent across patches, the seasonal pattern in size differed, with some patches showing strong temporal patterns (declines) and others showing none. Sex ratio was female-biased overall and did not differ significantly between patches. Our findings highlight the ecological relevance of spatial heterogeneity in traits and that incorporating spatial replicates is essential for accurately characterizing population-level patterns in freshwater ecosystems.