Open AccessMorphological disparity in populations with and without sexual reproduction: a case study in Eucypris virens (Crustacea: Ostracoda)
Author(s) -
BALTANÁS ANGEL,
ALCORLO PALOMA,
DANIELOPOL DAN L.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1046/j.1095-8312.2002.00001.x
Subject(s) - biology , ostracod , carapace , sexual dimorphism , crustacean , population , parthenogenesis , zoology , asexual reproduction , sexual reproduction , ecology , sexing , principal component analysis , evolutionary biology , demography , statistics , embryo , mathematics , sociology , microbiology and biotechnology
Morphological disparity in carapace outline was investigated in sexual and asexual populations of a widely spread nonmarine ostracod, Eucypris virens (Jurine, 1820) (Crustacea, Ostracoda). Only shape similarities have been considered; size effect was removed by standardizing all outlines. Multivariate analysis of morphometric descriptors (Elliptic Fourier coefficients) show that efficient discriminant functions can be obtained to differentiate between sexual and asexual populations, left and right valves, as well as among local populations (86.7% correct classifications in average). Principal component analysis revealed main patterns in shape variability among average population shapes. Sexual dimorphism is shown in body size but not in carapace outline. Although two morphotypes, unrelated to geographical locality, have been recognized, shape variation was largely continuous among all populations. Disparity at the within‐population level was similar for both right and left valves. Morphological disparity was lower in syngamic populations than in parthenogenetic populations. The results are discussed with regard to theories relating genetic and morphological diversity and to evidence on evolutionary ecology of reproductive modes in nonmarine ostracods. Advantages and further applications of morphometric analysis to taxonomic groups with rich fossil record, such as ostracods, is emphasized. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 75 , 9–19.