Abstract
Several species ofDaphnia closely related toD. pulex occur commonly in North America. These species continue to be difficult to identify because of unsystematic descriptions and the continual appearance of intermediate forms. Uni-and-multivariate analyses of the morphological variation of 18 characters for each of 351 animals from 33 populations fails to demonstrate any significant clusters of populations. None of the characters, singly or in combination, serves to separate the populations into unambiguous groups. A cluster analysis of the similarity of populations suggests that if distinct species do exist, they are not those presently recognized. The data support either the view that theD. pulex species group is one widespread and variable species, or that it is comprised of a much larger number of species than presently recognized.
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Dodson, S.I. Morphological variation of Daphnia pulex Leydig (Crustacea: Cladocera) and related species from North America. Hydrobiologia 83, 101–114 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187155
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02187155