A multivariate analysis of geographic variation in morphology inPersoonia mollis (Proteaceae) |
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Authors: | Siegfried L. Krauss |
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Affiliation: | (1) Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Northfields Avenue, 2522 Wollongong, NSW, Australia;(2) Present address: Division of Botany and Zoology, Australian National University, 0200 Canberra, ACT, Australia |
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Abstract: | This study highlights the utility and limitations of multivariate procedures for the analysis and taxonomic interpretation of geographic variation within a complex species. Morphological data from herbarium specimens ofPersoonia mollis (Proteceae) were analyzed by two ordination procedures, multidimensional scaling (MDS) and canonical variate analysis (CVA). Support for the earlier recognition of nine infraspecific taxa was found. However, plots of canonical variate scores against latitute or longitude across parapatric subspecies boundaries revealed unexpected phenetic homogeneity within subspecies with sharp transitions between subspecies. The geographic variation in morphology withinP. mollis can be best described as a mosaic of nine recognisably distinct and internally homogeneous allopatric or parapatric taxa, where neighbouring taxa share surprisingly narrow zones of morphological transition at ecotones. The utility of these procedures was highlighted by the recovery of unexpected patterns of variation. However, questions of rank remain unresolved by phenetic analysis alone. |
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Keywords: | Proteaceae Persoonia mollis Subspecies hybrid zones multidimensional scaling canonical variate analysis morphology |
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