Papers in the Biological Sciences
Date of this Version
6-2002
Abstract
The nonadult stages, egg strings, eggs, larvae, and cysts of Gordius robustus, Paragordius varius, and Chordodes morgani are described morphometrically. The goal was to document the differences between species and to evaluate the usefulness of morphometrics in species identification. In concert, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA, a posteriori contrasts) statistical tests demonstrated that each species is morphometrically distinguishable from all others. Additionally, discriminant function analysis indicated that postseptum length, pseudointestine length, and stylet width were the most important variables in the discrimination of species based on larval characters. Finally, differences in oviposition behaviors among these three species were found. It is suggested that ovipositioning differences may place larvae into distinct niches and may ultimately lead to the use of different paratenic hosts by different gordiid species.
Comments
Published in the Journal of Parasitology (June 2002) 88(3): 557-562. Copyright 2002, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.