Breaking symmetry: effects of habitat disturbance on flight-related traits of two Triatominae species.

ABSTRACT:

Introductiom

Habitat fragmentation alters environmental structure and imposes selective pressures on dispersal-related traits in insect vectors, potentially driving morphological adaptations that enhance flight performance. In this study, weinvestigate how landscape metrics influence the size and shape of the head and wings in two Triatominae species, Triatoma garciabesi and T. guasayana, which present differing ecological strategies. We hypothesize that individuals from more fragmented landscapes exhibit phenotypic shifts associated with enhanced dispersal capacity and increased morphological symmetry.

Methods

To test this, we combined community-based sampling of triatomines with geometric morphometrics and multiscale landscape metrics. We applied geometric mo

SUBMITTER: Fiad FG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12452036 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature