Intraspecific morphological variation in a freshwater copepod (Crustacea) in relation to geographic distribution and environment

Abstract

Intraspecific variation in morphology was studied by means of morphometric analysis in 52 populations of the freshwater planktonic copepod Cyclops scutifer G.O. Sars from Eurasia and North America. The species showed very conservative morphology over wide geographic areas and subspecies could not be established. Variations occurred irregularly, and morphologically very similar forms were found widely separated on different continents. Correlation analysis revealed that many morphological relations were correlated with environmental factors such as depth, temperature, and trophic condition. Variations in body proportions were thus related to environmental factors rather than to geographic distance.