Exploring shape diversity and sexual dimorphism in two populations of Nigma conducens through geometric morphometrics.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Spiders are highly adaptable hunters found in nearly all terrestrial ecosystems and play an important role in biological control by preying on pest insects. Spiders' body size and shape are vital for their survival, particularly in prey capture, and these morphological features are often utilized in cladistic analyses. This study employed geometric morphometrics to investigate prosoma shape and size variations between two populations of Nigma conducens spiders and between sexes within each population. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explored shape variation, while Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) compared shape differences between populations and sexes. Multivariate regression analysis was used to check for allometry.

Results

MANOVA results revealed significant

SUBMITTER: El-Masry SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11806776 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature