Geographic phenetic variation in the golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Ampullariidae) based on geometric approaches to morphometrics

This study was conducted to describe and explain morphological variation within and amongpopulations of the golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) using the geometric morphometricapproach. The foundation of this research is to describe patterns of morphological variation in bothnatural and managed populations. These descriptions are then used to frame hypotheses on the rolesnatural selection and geographical isolation play in evolution. Results showed variability within andamong populations of the pest. Results also showed a wide range of variability within, and amongpopulations of the golden apple snail and that geography alone could not explain such variability. Theresults of this study are discussed in the light of how variation within populations is translated intodifferences between populations.