TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ačanski, Jelena
A1  - Tot, Tamara
A1  - Grković, Ana
A1  - Miličić, Marija
A1  - Radenković, Snežana
A1  - Vujić, Ante
T1  - An assessment of new character in hoverfly species delimitation using linear and geometric morphometrics – genus Merodon Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Syrphidae) as a case study
T2  - European journal of taxonomy
N2  - Detection of morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species implies using an integrative taxonomic approach with a combination of molecular, contemporary morphological, ecological and other relevant analyses. Within a contemporary morphological analysis, two approaches are commonly used in hoverfly taxonomy: a geometric morphometric analysis of the wing and surstyle shape. Here, the importance of the R4+5 vein shape is tested in cryptic species delimitation within four Merodon species groups using linear and semilandmark geometric morphometric analyses. As expected, geometric morphometrics showed a stronger resolution compared to linear morphometrics. Linear morphometrics failed to detect differences related to sexual dimorphism or differences among the species M. pruni and M. obscurus. However, all cryptic species and sexes were separated with high significance based on the R4+5 vein shape. Moreover, obtained results concurred with the landmark-defined wing shape and molecular results published in previous studies. Additionally, combining two characters, the semilandmark R4+5 vein shape and the landmark-defined wing shape, provided more detailed and precise insights into the shape differences. Our results showed that the R4+5 vein shape stands out as an important character in species delimitation of hoverflies where the sinuation of this vein is present. Therefore, it can be beneficial as a single character or in combination with a landmark-based wing shape analysis.
T3  - European journal of taxonomy  : EJT - 910:98-114 
KW  - cryptic species delimitation
KW  - hoverflies
KW  - R4 5 vein
KW  - taxonomy
KW  - wing venation
Y1  - 2023
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/73547
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-735471
SN  - 2118-9773
VL  - 2023
IS  - 910
SP  - 98
EP  - 114
PB  - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
CY  - Paris
ER  -