Evolutionary consequences of parthogenesis: evidence from the Warramaba virgo complex.

Comparative quantitative analyses of variability in closely related parthenogenetic and sexually reproducing species have been lacking. This paper reports results of comparative analyses of relative variability carried out on the obligate thelytokous grasshopper Warramaba virgo (Key) and three closely related sexually reproducing species. Consistent patterns of differences in variability in 14 morphometric traits were found between clones and races of the parthenogenetic species which were absent in populations and species of the related sexual forms. When variability in the parthenogenetic and sexual species was compared, the parthenogenetic taxa were shown to be at least as variable as and often more variable than the sexual species.