Phenotypic variability of Aphantopus hyperantus and Coenonympha arcania (Lepidoptera: nymphalidae) in the vicinity of the Sredneuralsk copper smelter. 1. Metal content and wing length

Abstract

We tested the hypotheses that near a copper smelter, marigolds Aphantopus hyperantus and Coenonympha arcania accumulate metals in higher concentrations compared to the background territory and that the accumulation of metals in the body of adults negatively correlates with wing length, but positively with fluctuating asymmetry of wing length. We measured the length of the forewing and individual concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in the body of adults captured at different distances from the Sredneuralsk copper smelter (Revda, Russia). The metal content reaches very high levels, with Zn concentrations higher than Cu and Pb concentrations by an order of magnitude, and Cd concentrations by two orders of magnitude. In both species, males accumulate metals significantly more than females. The maximum concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd were found near the plant. Wing length either did not differ between sites or was higher near the plant. Only for females of one of the species (A. hyperantus) a statistically significant negative relationship was found between Cu concentrations and wing size. In both species, fluctuating wing size asymmetry did not differ between sites and was not affected by metal concentrations at the individual level.