Geometric Morphometric
Study of Wing Shape in Leva indica (Acrididae: Gomphocerinae) from Different Environmental
Sites of Coimbatore, India
Suganya M. and Manimegalai K.
Res. J. Chem. Environ.; Vol. 28(1); 133-141;
doi: https://doi.org/10.25303/281rjce1330141; (2024)
Abstract
A landmark based geometric morphometric study was carried out to describe the variation
in wing of male and female Leva indica from different environmental sites of Coimbatore,
Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 60 male and 60 female forewings were used in this
study. To demonstrate the variation in wing shape, landmark data of each individual
was examined through the morphometric softwares namely tps-Util, tps-Dig, tps-Relw,
tps-Small and integrated software PAST. In total, 19 landmarks were identified in
both male and female wings of L. indica. Based on the landmark coordinates, the
first two relative warp analysis showed significant variation within and between
the male and female wing shape from different sites.
Procrustes vs. tangent space distance showed that the distances were similar within
males and females but significant differences appeared between the male and female
wings of L. indica. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) between the male and female
wings scatter plots also showed clear distinction from the result. The obtained
results indicate that each sex of L. indica from different regions displays morphological
differences in wing shape. These morphological changes could have occurred as a
result of phenotypic plasticity.
