• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2019

Background: Studies of morphological variation within and among populations provide an opportunity to understand local adaptation and potential patterns of gene flow. To study the evolutionary divergence patterns of Schlegel's Japanese gecko (Gekko japonicus) across its distribution, we analyzed data for 15 morphological characters of 324 individuals across 11 populations (2 in China, 4 in Japan, and 5 in Korea). Results: Among-population morphological variation was smaller than within-population variation, which was primarily explained by variation in axilla-groin length, number of infralabials, number of scansors on toe IV, and head-related variables such as head height and width. The population discrimination power was 32.4% and in cluster analysis, populations from the three countries tended to intermix in two major groups. Conclusion: Our results indicate that morphological differentiation among the studied populations is scarce, suggesting short history for some populations after their establishment, frequent migration of individuals among the populations, and/or local morphological differentiation in similar urban habitats. Nevertheless, we detected interesting phenetic patterns that may predict consistent linkage of particular populations that are independent of national borders. Additional sampling across the range and inclusion of genetic data could give further clue for the historical relationship among Chinese, Japanese, and Korean populations of G. japonicus.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2004

Phragmites australis is the dominant and constructive species among plant communities in the wetlands of the downstream of Yellow River, China. Its morphological characters were high variable in different habitats. Studies on Morphological and RAPD variation of 15 P. australis populations from this region showed that soil salinity was the dominant ecological factor that affected the morphological characters of P. australis. The basal diameter, height, leaf length, leaf width, internode length, internode accounts, panicle length were negatively related to salinity. 194 loci were amplified by RAPD, of which 9 loci was highly negative-related to salinity, and showed a tendency to prefer the habitats with fresh water. 4 loci were positively related to the salinity, and showed a tendency to prefer the salinized habitats. Most loci were neutral to salinity. The morphological and genetic characters of BZH were special, and the speciality should not be determined by salinity. The morphological characters were affected by genetic information and environment. The morphological characters should change gradually and continuously along environmental gradient under plasticity, but should changed continuously or not in genetic control. The relevancies among quantitive characters, ecological factors and genetic variation in natural populations still will still be a focus and difficulty of ecological genetics of P. australis in the future.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 1991

Patterns of morphological variation in Polygonum setaceum Baldwin ex Elliott are examined, and the taxonomic significance of the varieties recognized by Fernald is reevaluated. The diagnostic characters used to differentiate the varieties in P. setaceum demonstrate virtually continuous variation, and broad geographic intergradation is recognized. Principal components analyses of major morphological characters also fail to separate the varieties. These results strongly suggest that recognition of var. setaceum, var. interjectum, and var. tonsum by Fernald is unwarranted.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.510-522
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• 2017

To better understand the morphological variation for Perilla crop in different areas of China, we studied the morphological variation in 87 accessions (84 cultivated var. frutescens and three cultivated var. crispa) from high latitude (Northeast China) and middle latitude (North and Northwest China) areas of China by examining seven quantitative and 10 qualitative characters. Analysis of the morphological variation determined that there was significant morphological differences in five quantitative traits between cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa, including effective number of branches (QN2), number of internodes (QN3), number of branches (QN4), length of the largest inflorescence (QN5), and days from germination to flowering (QN7). However, two quantitative traits-plant height and number of florets of the largest inflorescence-did not show any significant differences between cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa. In addition, significant differences for six quantitative traits were found between the accessions of cultivated var. frutescens originating from high and middle latitude areas in China, which included QN2, QN3, QN5, number of florets of the largest inflorescence (QN6), and QN7. Principal components analysis (PCA) identified five quantitative characters [plant height (QN1), QN2, QN3, QN4, QN7] and six qualitative characters [fragrance of plant (QL1), color of reverse side of leaf (QL3), degree of pubescence (QL5), color of flower (QL6), shape of leaf (QL7), and hardness of seed (QL10)] that contributed to the positive direction on the first axis. The other quantitative and qualitative characters contributed to the negative direction on the first axis. Most accessions of cultivated var. frutescens and cultivated var. crispa were clearly separated by the first axis. In addition, most accessions of cultivated var. frutescens are from high latitude and middle latitude areas that were clearly separated by the first axis, except for several accessions. The findings from this study will provide useful information towards understanding the morphological variation of Perilla crop according to geographical distribution in high and middle latitude regions of China.

• ALGAE
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2015

Ecklonia cava Kjellman is a common kelp found in shallow subtidal in warm-temperate waters in the northwest Pacific Ocean. This species has shown substantial morphological variation along with subsistence in different locations and local environments. We quantified the magnitude of morphological variation of E. cava from six populations along ~700 km of coastline from Jeju Island to Dokdo in Korea. In addition, we examined genetic distance among the populations using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Most morphological characteristics investigated were significantly different among locations. Multivariate analyses indicated two phenetically distinct groups (nearshore, sheltered vs. offshore, exposed), indicating wave exposure with turbidity are presumably major factors for the separation. With RAPD data, results of Nei's diversity (H) and AMOVA showed considerable variations in within- and between-populations. Pairwise ${\Phi}_{ST}$ and $N_m$ values indicated moderate gene flow between the six locations. Results of Nei's analysis revealed three genetically distinct groups, not consistent with the morphological groupings, indicating that a time gap may exist between morphological and genetic variations. This study also suggests dispersal distance of this kelp may be longer than what is commonly thought and genetic similarity in the populations was largely reflected by the direction of ocean current rather than just geographical distance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1382-1388
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• 2009

Rubus crataegifolius is a shrub species and is primarily distributed throughout Asia and Europe. We collected 550 representative samples of the eleven populations in Korea to estimate leaf variation within species. The 35 morphological characteristics allowed us to resolve well-supported fixed characteristics and variable characteristics. Sixteen of twenty-three quantitative characteristics and five of twelve qualitative characteristics showed significant differences among populations. We argued that the population differentiation can accounted for the variation in phenetic characteristics such as spine in this species, but were less successful in accounting for variation in other traits. Within a polystatistic leaf structure, their morphological differences could be modulated by ecological pressure such as temperature, altitude, duration of sunshine, and solar radiation. The phenogram showed two distinct clades. One was a group in central Korea and the other was a group in the southern regions of Korea. If morphological characteristics in R. crataegifolius populations reflect their ecological niche, morphology should be regarded with caution as the main criterion for population studies in R. crataegifolius.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.240-246
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• 2011

The principal objective of this study was to estimate the availability of morphological data on the basis of the guidelines of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) with regard to the identification of the rose germplasm. The correlation of morphological traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker data among 44 rose cultivars was assessed via a mantel test. Thirty eight phenotypes were employed for morphological analysis. Sixteen primers were utilized for RAPD analysis, and these generated 225 polymorphic bands. The dendrogram based on the RAPD markersgrouped 44 rose cultivars according to their horticultural types. No significant correlation was observed between the morphological and RAPD marker data. We concluded that current UPOV traits could not be applied to study genetic variation. Further studies on morphological traits are required for the analysis of genetic variation among cultivars.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.672-675
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• 2006

In order to determine the morphological variations of the Japanese swimming crab, Charybdis japonica, we conducted morphological analysis of five populations that are relatively abundant in Korea and Japan. Abdominal sternite for individuals of the Tean population showed significantly short when compared to those of other populations. Principal component analysis demonstrated that morphological differentiation was due to differences (A/Q, B/M, D/P, F/O, J/K), and effectively discriminated each others. The first two components accounted for 40.9% and 60.7% of the variation, respectively. The dendrogram showed three distinct groups, Tokyo population, Taean population, and the other populations.

• ALGAE
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2012

Water motion is one of the main drivers in morphological variability in species within de order Laminariales, and most of our current knowledge is based on subtidal populations. $Eisenia$ $arborea$ is a dominant kelp species in the North Pacific, widely distributed along the Baja California Peninsula from mid intertidal down to subtidal areas. This species presents great variability in the intertidal zone but it has not been yet evaluated such variability according to wave exposure. The present work also identifies the spatial / temporal variation, particularly respect to the presence of stipes without medulla (hollow stipes) a feature common among other brown seaweeds. We evaluated the effects of wave action in morphological variation of intertidal $Eisenia$ $arborea$ (Laminariales, Ochrophyta) at Punta Eugenia. The spatial and temporal variation sampling was surveyed between February, May, July, and August 2004 in the intertidal of Punta Eugenia, Baja California Sur. Our results have shown that exposed sites correlate with increased length and width of stipes as compared to more protected sites. Hollow stipes frequency changed more in association with temporal variation than with spatial heterogeneity suggesting nutrient limitation for thalli development. Our results suggest that $Eisenia$ $arborea$ compensate by morphological modifications the stress of living in the intertidal zone by showing larger stipes. Hollow stipes might be are also a mechanical adaptation to increase survival in high energy environments.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2005

Morphological observation of a unialgal culture of Lingulodinium polyedrum was conducted under light- and scanning electron microscopes. Lingulodinium polyedrum was redefined as having the thecal formula of APC, Q, 5', 6", 6c, 6s, 5'", 2"" using the reinterpreted tabulation system. In our tabulation system, the Q, which is equivalent to the 3' in the strict Kofoidean system, was treated as an auxiliary platelet because of its considerable morphological variations in culture specimens. Subsequently, apical plates were redefined as plates directly connected to the APC and/or the Q. The 1"' and the 1p in the conventional Kofoidean system were treated as a component of the sulcus (the Ssa) and as an antapical plate (the 1""), respectively. Our reinterpreted tabulation system clearly differentiated extant gonyaulacalean taxa.