Geographical patterns of morphological variation and environmental correlates in contact zones: a multi-scale approach using two Mediterranean vipers (Serpentes)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

martinez-freiria, f (Author) Other; santos, x (Author) Other; pleguezuelos, jm (Author) Other; lizana, m (Author) Other; brito, jc (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research

Vol. 47

Pages: 357-367

ISSN: 0947-5745

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 10 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-ESR

DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2008.00506.x

Abstract (EN): Adaptation to similar selective pressures can explain morphological convergence between closely related species in contact zones. Geostatistics and Geographical Information System were used to identify multi-scale patterns of morphological variability and test the hypothesis of morphological convergence due to local environmental pressures in the contact areas between Vipera aspis and Vipera latastei in the Iberian Peninsula. Nine morphological traits from 630 and 362 vipers at regional and local scale, respectively, were interpolated by Kriging to generate surfaces of morphological variation. Kriging is a geostatistical algorithm that allows investigating the spatial structure of data with statistical models. At both scales, a convergent north-south pattern in morphological variability was observed and the contact areas were identified as integration zones where intermediate vipers are found. Significant correlations were found between surfaces of univariate and multivariate traits, with precipitation and temperature seasonality. Thus, several morphological traits were apparently under local environmental selection. Nevertheless, the influence of biotic pressures and gene flow on morphological convergence of vipers in contact zones deserves further study.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11