Phenetic variation between some species in the family Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Gamasida)

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Chant, D. A., Hansell, R. I. C., Rowell, H. J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1980
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z80-020; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z80-020

Examination of differences in phenetic variation between a number of closely related species of mites of the family Phytoseiidae from four widely different environments in North America, ranging from subarctic to subtropical, was undertaken. Phenetic variation was measured by (1) determining the numbers of taxa recorded in given areas as a measure of the richness of species and genera; (2) determining interspecific morphological diversity using multivariate techniques based on frequency distributions of the taxonomic distances between pairs of species; and (3) by using phenogram analyses to determine the species groups in a given area.The results show a consistent trend in the degree of diversity. The more northerly communities have fewer taxa and these show little phenetic diversity, whereas the more southern communities have more taxa and they show greater phenetic diversity.