Biometric differences between several populations of Cordulegaster boltonii (Odonata: Cordulegastridae) in Ibero-Maghrebian área

• Published in: European journal of entomology Vol. 117; no. 1; pp. 260 - 264
• Main Authors: Casanueva, Patricia, Santamaria, Tomas, Hernandez, Maria A., Sanchez-Sastre, Luis F., Teiga Teixeira, Amilcar António, Bennas, Nard, El Haissoufi, Mohamed, Ferreras-Romero, Manuel, Campos, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ceske Budejovice The European Journal of Entomology 2020; Institute of Entomology; Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
• Subjects: Area; Biometrics; Cluster analysis; Cordulegaster boltonii; Cordulegastridae; Correlation analysis; Dragonfl ies; dragonflies; Iberian Peninsula; Larvae; Morocco; Mountain streams; Odonata; Population; Population studies; Populations; Variance analysis; Watercourses; Iberian Peninsula; North Africa; Morocco; Portugal; Spain; Nevada
• DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.028
• ISSN: 1210-5759

Biometric data of the exuviae of female larvae of the dragonfl y Cordulegaster boltonii collected in Portugal, Spain and Morocco were analysed to determine whether the size of three exuvial structures measured differed depending on the geographic localities of the populations. Based on the results recorded for the 16 populations studied, head width was negatively correlated with latitude and the greatest length of the gonapophysis was recorded for the Iberian populations at the centre of this peninsula. Multivariate cluster analysis revealed a clear separation of the Moroccan population. A second cluster separated the southernmost population (Sierra Nevada) from the remaining Iberian populations. Four population groups were distinguished: those located in watercourses in the north and central area of the Iberian Peninsula, those in Iberian watercourses in the East and Middle South, the Sierra Nevada and North Morocco. Some of these results coincide with the results of genetic studies of other authors. Exuviae from the Sierra Nevada were collected by Á. Romero (Granada). C. Díaz (Cuenca), B. Tens and V. Rincón (Ávila), C. Lobón, G. Sanz, T. Velasco and P. Carpintero (Valladolid), L. Nunes (Castelo Branco) and J. Márquez (Sevilla) helped with the fi eld work. This work was funded by the European University Miguel de Cervantes support for Research Projects.