Morphological variation on isolated populations of Praocis (Praocis) spinolai

Abstract

In this study, the morphological variations of four geographically isolated populations of Praocis ( Praocis ) spinolai Gay & Solier (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the transitional coastal desert, Chile, were studied. The study was conducted in the coastal area of Punta de Choros and Los Choros-Archipelago, which includes three islands: Choros, Damas, and Gaviota. 113 specimens of the species P. ( P. ) spinolai belonging to the four locations sampled were collected analyzed with geometric morphometrics techniques to explore the pattern of shape variation on the different isolated environments. The principal component analysis revealed a well-defined pattern of variation between the populations analyzed. Moreover, differences between populations emerged also from the canonical variation analysis and were confirmed by the Procrustes ANOVA. All analyses performed confirmed the existence of a pattern of variation, due to the isolation of the populations and to environmental effects. The islands are subject to more arid pressures than the continent, where there is a more stable environment and the presence of coastal wetlands and the coastal range of mountains act together and enable fog condensation. This study indicates the existence of a clear pattern of variation, which indicates an evolutionary trend among the population examined.

Description of Bothriurus mistral n. sp., the highest-dwelling Bothriurus from the western Andes (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae), using multiple morphometric approaches

“…For this research the inclusion of geometric morphometrics analysis of the metasoma results to be very informative and powerful to discriminate cryptic morphologies [ 32 ]. Geometric morphometrics tools have been rarely used in scorpions.…”

Geometric Morphometrics Approach on Genotoxicity Evaluation of Ecdysone Agonist, Chromafenozide on Corcyra Cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…discriminate function analysis) to evaluate morphological data sets. Most of the research works in geometric morphometrics have focused on landmark data [15][16][17][18]. The current study examined on the symmetry and comparison of wing pattern in treated and untreated organism.…”

Variability in the Last Abdominal Sternum of Brontispa longissima Populations Using Outline-Based Geometric Morphometric Analysis

“…These morphological disparities on the sternum shape could be due to the isolation that affects the populations studied where the gene flow could be interrupted between them in which the B. longissima group will show a particularly high plasticity in the capacity to withstand differences and environmental pressures enacted in each particular environment [19]. This capacity could then be reflected in high morphological plasticity that emerges and indicates that the populations are evolving [20]. In the case of CHB sternum shapes, the last segments, like most of the beetles, are the genital segments that retain ancestral appendages that have been modified into the genitalia of the male and female, that is, for holding the female in position during copulation (male) and in the female accepting the male during copulation and also for oviposition or egg laying [21].…”