A multidisciplinary approach to discriminating different taxa in the species complex Pachycondyla villosa (Formicidae) |
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| Authors: | CHRISTOPHE LUCAS DOMINIQUE FRESNEAU KERSTIN KOLMER JURGEN HEINZE JACQUES H. C. DELABIE DANG B. PHO |
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| Affiliation: | ;Mécanismes de communication, UniversitéParis Sud, CNRS-UMR 8620, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France ;LEEC, UniversitéParis Nord, CNRS-UPRESA no. 7025, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France ;Biologie I, Universität Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany ;Mirmecologia, Convênio UESC/CEPLAC, C.P. 7, 45600–000, Itabuna, Bahia, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | A multidisciplinary approach provides new evidence that strongly supports the differentiation of three taxa previously confounded in a single species, Pachycondyla villosa . All specimens studied were collected in the same location at Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil. Bivariate plots of petiole heights vs. petiole lengths and isozyme patterns clearly differentiate the three taxa. Chain lengths and chemical structures of cuticular hydrocarbons are characteristic of each taxon. This congruent evidence shows that there are three different valid species. Ecological hypotheses are discussed to explain the benefits of these species remaining sympatric. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 75 , 249–259. |
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| Keywords: | ants cuticular hydrocarbons isozymes morphometry Pachycondyla inversa Pachycondyla subversa Pachycondyla villosa Ponerinae sympatry taxonomy |
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