Population genetics and morphometrics of the black tunnelweb spider Porrhothele (Mygalomorphae, Porrhothelidae) : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Abstract

The Mygalomorphae are a taxonomically challenging group due to their morphologically conserved nature. Similarly, the phylogenetic relationships of Mygalomorphae within New Zealand are poorly resolved. The 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 (Mygalomorphae:Porrhothelidae) have poorly defined species that may not accurately represent the true diversity of the genus. This thesis utilizes genetics and morphometrics to 1) provide a hypothesis for how New Zealand’s Mygalomorphae relate to one another 2) clarify whether 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 is composed of multiple species 3) determine if traditionally used morphological traits can effectively separate 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 mtDNA clades from one or another or even from 𝘏𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦, a morphologically and ecologically similar group. Mygalomorphae were collected throughout New Zealand and had the CO1 mtDNA gene sequenced. Combined with online data, a phylogenetic tree representing all five of New Zealand’s Mygalomorphae genera was generated. The multiple genera tree hypothesizes that 𝘔𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘴 is the closest relative to 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 within New Zealand. CO1 mtDNA data from 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 was used to generate phylogenetic trees for the genus. Morphological traits were measured and used in a principal components analysis to determine whether they could separate genera and mtDNA clades. An unsupervised cluster analysis was also used to determine whether mtDNA clades and genera could be separated. The 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 phylogenetic trees provide some evidence that 𝘗. 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 may represent more than one species, but it still appears that 𝘗. 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 is a widespread species. Additionally, the 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 phylogenetic trees provide some evidence for the presence of three undescribed species. The CO1 mtDNA clades within 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 could not be separated from one another using the selected morphological traits in the PCA but were able to separate 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 from 𝘏𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦. However, the cluster analysis was unable to separate mtDNA clades and genera. Metatarsus length was found to be the most effective trait at separating 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 from 𝘏𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 but cannot completely separate them. It was also found that the number of spermatheca lobes in females provide support for the new mtDNA lineages being undescribed 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 species, but caution is needed as some 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦 species and individuals are variable for this character.