Distribution and Morphological Variation of Lampsilis radiata (Pelecypoda, Unionidae) in Some Central Canadian Lakes: A Multivariate Statistical Approach

Abstract

Discriminant analysis performed on 62 samples containing Anodonta grandis and 52 samples containing Lampsilis radiata collected from 19 lakes in central Canada indicated separation in terms of an environmental factor which was interpreted as suitability of water chemistry for construction of shell. A canonical correlation analysis on morphological and environmental variables for 70 specimens of L. radiata yielded two highly significant canonical variates which related components of environmental variation to components of morphological variation. One was interpreted as variation in water turbulence, which primarily affected overall size. The other was similar to the factor which separated A. grandis from L. radiata and was interpreted similarly. Shell weight, or thickness, rather than overall size, was affected. Environments were successfully predicted for shells from two locations not included in the original analysis.