engleski

Shape variations of Agriotes ustulatus in different environmental conditions

Historically, taxonomic classification and biological diversity understanding have been based on morphological descriptions. Derived from a mathematical quantitative revolution, morphological studies have experienced an important renewal due to the development of shape analysis rooted in statistical multivariate methods and novel visualisation techniques. Wireworms are click beetles larvae from the genus Agriotes (Coleoptera: Elateridae) that cause considerable damage to field crops. Changing environment generates different degrees of stress in insects and reflects on the ability of an individual to overcome it and spread further. In this study we analysed morphological differences in 258 wireworms of genus A. ustulatus (standard morphological determination) from 8 populations in Croatia. The selected larvae were from the same developmental instars. Landmark based geometric morphometric techniques were used to explore the pattern of shape variation of the head capsule caused by different environmental conditions. The principal component analysis revealed a well-defined pattern of variation between the analyzed populations. Moreover, differences between populations emerged also from the canonical variation analysis, and confirmed by the Procrustes ANOVA (F: 5.94 p< 0.001). From our study clear morphological differences between the populations emerged. Preliminary results indicate that GM is potentially a powerful, cheap and simple, method for wireworm species diagnostics.

wireworms; shape variation; clime

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