Species delimitation in the bear scarabs: using GIS tools to clarify the Paracotalpa ursina (Coleoptera) species complex
Date
2013-05-08Author
Keller, Oliver
Advisor
Jameson, Mary Liz; Beck, James B.Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Oliver Keller. 2013. Species delimitation in the bear scarabs: using GIS tools to clarify
the Paracotalpa ursina (Coleoptera) species complex. -- In Proceedings: 9th Annual Symposium: Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p.55-56
Abstract
Distributions and environmental conditions for the western North American Paracotalpa ursina (Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Areodina) species complex are assessed using niche modeling. This species complex occurs mainly in the California Floristic Province and includes as many as nine morphotypes. Its high phenotypic variation could be influenced by mechanisms associated with the complex topographies of the Californian landscape such as dispersal barriers and climate. Comparison of factors that influence the distribution of the highly variable P. ursina populations with less variable sister species populations may help to elucidate the mechanisms that lead to intraspecific variation.
Description
Paper presented to the 9th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Marcus Welcome Center, Wichita State University, May 8, 2013.
Research completed at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences