Phenotype plasticity analysis of Alburnus mossulensis Heckel, 1843 from Tigris basin using Geometric morphometrics

Subject Areas : New Technologies in Aquaculture Development

Received: 2021-02-13 Accepted : 2021-02-13 Published : 2015-08-23

Keywords: Keywords: Geometric morphometrics, Phenotype plasticity, Southern kingfish, Tigris basin,

Abstract :

Abstract[1] Phenotypic plasticity of body shape in five populations of the Southern kingfish (Alburnus mossulensis)was studied using geometric morphometric technique. Totally, 200 fish specimens were collected from five rivers of the Tigris basin including the Kashkan, Sepidbarg, Karun, Gamasiab and Khersan Rivers using electrofishing. The left side of collected specimens was photographed using a digital camera and 15 homologous landmark points were selected and digitized on 2D pictures using tpsDig2 software. Landmark data after GPA, analyzed using PCA, CVA and Cluster analysis and the patterns of population’s body shape were illustrated in relation to consensus configuration of all specimens. Results revealed significant differences between all populations based on CVA. Based on cluster analysis, the populations according to their body shape were divided into three clusters including (1) Kashkan, Gamasiab and Sepidbarg Rivers, (2) Khersan River and (3) Karun River. Based on ecological similarity between rivers Sepidbarg, Kashkan and Gamasiab and their differences with rivers Karun and Khersan it can be inferred that these differences are due to their ecological conditions. Therefore, our finding can confirm phenotypic plasticity of body shape among the studied populations affected by environmental conditions.   * Corresponding Authors; Email: [e-mail]