Abstract
Adult body size, one of the most important life-history components, varies strongly within and between Heliconius erato phyllis (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) populations. This study determines if this variation is caused by geographical changes in host-plant used by the larval stage, whose reproductive parameters are influenced by female body size, with estimates of the corresponding heritability. The variation in adult body size was determined together with a survey of passion vine species (Passifloraceae) used by the larvae in seven localities in Rio Grande do Sul State: three located in the urban area of Porto Alegre and Triunfo Counties, two within Eucalyptus plantations (Barba Negra Forest, Barra do Ribeiro County, and Aguas Belas Experimental Station-Viamão County), one in a Myrtaceae Forest (Itapuã State Park-Itapuã County) and one in the Atlantic Rain Forest (Maquiné Experimental Station-Maquiné County). Effects of female body size on fecundity, egg size and egg viability were determined in an outdoor insectary. Size heritability was estimated by rearing in the laboratory offspring of individuals maintained in an insectary. The data showed that adults from populations where larvae feed only upon Passiflora suberosa are smaller than those that feed on Passiflora misera. The larvae prefer P. misera even when the dominant passion vine in a given place is P. suberosa. Fecundity increases linearly with the increase in size of females, but there is no size effect on egg size or viability. Size heritability is null for the adult size range occurring in the field. Thus, the geographical variation of H. erato phyllis adult size is primarily determined by the type, corresponding availability and quality of host-plants used by the larval stage. Within the natural size range of H. erato phyllis, the variation related to this character is not genetically based, thus being part of H. erato phyllis phenotypic plasticity.
Highlights
Body size is recognized as one of the most important life-history components for many animal species (e.g., Peters, 1983; LaBarbera, 1989; Roff, 1992; Stearns, 1992)
Eight passion vine species were found in the seven study sites: P. suberosa Linnaeus, P. misera Linnaeus, P. caerulea Linnaeus, P. elegans Masters, P. alata Dryander, P. tenuifila Killip, P. actinia Hooker and P. capsularis Linnaeus (Fig. 2)
Our study indicates that H. erato phyllis varies in body size from place to place according to the passion vine species used as feeding resource by the larval stage
Summary
Body size is recognized as one of the most important life-history components for many animal species (e.g., Peters, 1983; LaBarbera, 1989; Roff, 1992; Stearns, 1992). Several studies focusing on insects (e.g., Honek, 1993; Klingenberg & Spence, 1997; Nylin & Gotthard, 1998; but see Leather, 1988), including Lepidoptera (e.g., Labine, 1968; Dunlap-Pianka, 1979; Elgar & Pierce, 1988; but see Boggs, 1986), have pointed out the existence of a positive correlation between body size and fecundity. Heliconiine butterflies are closely associated with their larval host-plants, the passion vines (Passifloraceae) (for reviews, see Benson et al, 1976; Brown, 1981; Turner, 1981; Gilbert, 1991). Variation in host plant properties is expected to produce changes in the adult life history of H. erato, as has been demonstrated for many herbivorous insects
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