Merodon rasicus, Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Ačanski, Jelena, Grković, Ana, Taylor, Mike, Şenol, Serdar Gökhan & Hayat, Rüstem, 2015

Vujić, Ante, Radenković, Snežana, Ačanski, Jelena, Grković, Ana, Taylor, Mike, Şenol, Serdar Gökhan & Hayat, Rüstem, 2015, Revision of the species of the Merodon nanus group (Diptera: Syrphidae) including three new species, Zootaxa 4006 (3), pp. 439-462 : 458-459

Merodon nanus

Species with a wide range that occurs on the Greek island of Lesvos, the central and eastern part of Turkey, the Caucasus mountains (“Araxesthal”), Syria, Israel and Iran ( Fig. 20 ). Elevation range is up to 2,500 m, but most records were collected from lower mountains ( Fig. 20 ).

Niche comparisons in environmental space. To improve our understanding of species distribution, climatic profiles for all five species from M. nanus group were studied. Principal component analysis showed that species from this group differ in three environmental dimensions (three PCs with an eigenvalue greater than 1), which together explain 89% of the total variation. ANOVA showed overall significant differences in factor scores of all three PCs among species (PC1: F4,482=53.51, p<0.00000; PC2: F4,482=7.74, p<0.00093; PC3: F4,482=33.97, p<0.00000). PC1 carries the greater part of the variability (68%) and is in positive correlation with the mean temperature of the wettest quarter (Bio8) and isothermality (Bio3), while PC2 and PC3 are correlated with precipitation variables. PC2 and PC3 possess a similar percent variability: 11% and 10% respectively. PC2 positively correlates with annual precipitation (Bio12), precipitation in the wettest quarter (Bio16) and month (Bio13), while PC3 represent precipitation in the warmest quarter (Bio18), precipitation in the driest month (Bio14) and quarter (Bio17). 3D scatter plot of mean values of factor scores illustrate the position of five species from M. nanus group in environmental space ( Fig. 21 ). PC1 enables clear distinction between M. nanus and other investigated species on the basis of temperature in the wettest quarter. Species with a northern distribution, M. rasicus sp. n. and M. neonanus sp. n., are clearly separated by PC2 from all others while M. neonanus sp. n. and M. nanus , which have a mostly coastal distribution, are distinguished by PC3 from other investigated species.

Figures

FIGURE 20. Distribution of Merodon nanus.

FIGURE 21. Principal component analysis of 19 variables associated with occurrences of five species from M. nanus group. Symbols represent the mean values of factors scores related with species in 3 D dimensions.