This reanalysis confirmed that F1 hybrids have an intermediate morphology between D. simulans and D. mauritiana (the morphological distances between hybrids to both parental phenotypes were not significantly different: F1, 18 =, 008, p = 0, 93).
To identify the distance formulae best suited for the tasks of interest, we also investigate the correlation between the resultant distance matrices and matrices based on morphological distances as an external, independent dataset; this investigation will include permutational statistical tests [ 52].
All correlations between geographic and morphological distances were highly significant.
to quantify the hypothesised morphological distances between OTUs in our alternative model matrices.
At the same time, the geographic bipartite model resulted in a generally better fit to the morphological distances among groups.
Furthermore, the removal of variables not associated with population history strengthened the correlations between geographic and morphological distances considerably, especially for Model 3 (bipartite Asian origin).
In order to test if Model 3 presents a better fit to the morphological distances than the other three models, Dow-Cheverud tests [29] were applied.
PCA maintained morphological distances among species, yet eliminated redundancy of the highly correlated wing and echolocation characteristics that are part of the same adaptive complex [33].
As a consequence, it was possible to evaluate if the model with the strongest observed correlation with the morphological distances matrix is a better predictor than the other, weaker models.
Genetic distances, but not morphological distances, were correlated with geographic distances.
