Geometric morphometric analysis of wing shape variation in ten European populations of Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1782) (Zygoptera: Calopterygidae)

The wings of 10 C. splendens populations were examined by landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis. Subspecific taxa in this group are currently based on wing spot size in <S 6. Here, the variation in wing shape and size is evaluated, to test whether shape is different at a population level, and whether this has implications at a taxonomic level. It was found that Geometric Morphometries successfully discriminates populations: overall wing shape significantly differed between populations but the results were only partly compatible with taxonomic studies based on wing spot size. Irrespective of wing spot, all populations showed differentiation in wing shape even though not in wing size; 4 groups were recognized based on wing shape: (1) Turkish! population; (2) Spanish, Finnish, Russian and Turkish2 populations; (3) Italian, German and French populations; (4) Greek and Albanian populations. Ordination of the populations based on consensus data and cluster analysis phenogram confirmed such a pattern. The Spanish population (C. xanthostoma), did not show a strong identity, while the Turkish 1 (C. s. waterstoni) was quite isolated. The Italian population (C. s. caprai) showed more relation to the French (C. s. faivrei) and German populations than to Albanian and Greek populations.