Morphological variability between wild populations and inbred stocks of a Chinese minnow, Gobiocypris rarus

Gobiocypris rarus, a small, native cyprinid fish, is currently widely used in research on fish pathology, genetics, toxicology, embryology, and physiology in China. To develop this species as a model laboratory animal, inbred strains have been successfully created. In this study, to explore a method to discriminate inbred strains and evaluate inbreeding effects, morphological variation among three wild populations and three inbred stocks of G. rarus was investigated by the multivariate analysis of eight meristic and 30 morphometric characters. Tiny intraspecific variations in meristic characters were found, but these were not effective for population distinction. Stepwise discriminant analysis and cluster analysis of conventional measures and truss network data showed considerable divergence among populations, especially between wild populations and inbred stocks. The average discriminant accuracy for all populations was 82.1% based on conventional measures and 86.4% based on truss data, whereas the discriminant accuracy for inbred strains was much higher. These results suggested that multivariate analyses of morphometric characters are an effective method for discriminating inbred strains of G. rarus. Morphological differences between wild populations and inbred strains appear to result from both genetic differences and environmental factors. Thirteen characters, extracted from stepwise discriminant analysis, played important roles in morphological differentiation. These characters were mainly measures related to body depth and head size.     

Morphological variations among four riverine populations (Bangladesh) of endangered catfish Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822)

The morphological variation of the endangered catfish Rita rita was studied based on meristic, length–weight relationship (LWR), traditional (TRA) and truss (TRU) distance based morphometric analysis of 200 juveniles collected from the Old Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Meghna and Kangsa rivers. Data were subjected to Kruskal–Wallis test for meristic counts, t test for LWR, univariate ANOVA, multivariate discriminant function analysis and canonical analysis (CA) both for TRA and TRU morphometric characters to discriminate the populations. Kruskal–Wallis test denoted that only one (caudal fin rays) out of six meristic counts was significantly (p < .05) variable among the stocks. One sample t test clarified that all parameters of LWR were significantly (p < .05) differentiated in all stocks. Univariate ANOVA revealed significant (p < .001, p < .01, and p < .05) differences among the four stocks in 14 of 15 standardized TRA traits and 17 of 25 TRU distances, respectively. The first discriminant function (DF1) explained 59.4% and 68.0% of total variance, while 30.6% and 23.1% by DF2, 10.0% and 8.9% by DF3 for TRA and TRU features, respectively among the stocks. CA showed a clear separation of the stocks both for TRA and TRU measurements. The overall random assignment of individuals into their original groups was high as 78.5% for TRA and 78.0% for TRU characters, respectively, indicating that all the four stocks are highly divergent from each other. The results exposed existence of four distinct phenotypic stocks of R. rita in the tested rivers.     

Detection of morphometric differentiation between isolated up- and downstream populations of Siah Mahi (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capoeta capoeta gracilis</Emphasis>) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in the Tajan River (Iran)

It has been postulated that the building of the Shahid-Rajaei dam on the Tajan River around 1995 has lead to the morphological divergence of Siah Mahi Capotes capoeta gracilis (Pisces) of up- and downstream populations due to the isolation. A 13-landmark morphometric truss network system was used to investigate the hypothesis. Univariate analysis of variance showed significant differences between the means of the two groups for 45 standardized morphometric measurements out of 78 characters studied. In linear discriminant function analysis (DFA), the overall assignment of individuals into their original groups was 87.6%. The proportion of individuals correctly classified into their original groups was 90.3% for upstream and 83.7% for downstream population. The principal component analysis (PCA) scatter plot of individual component scores between PC1 and PC2 showed 121 fish specimens grouped into two areas but with a relativity high degree of overlap between two populations. Clustering analysis based on Euclidean square distances among groups of centroids using an UPGMA resulted into two main clusters indicating two populations of C. c. gracilis. The present study indicated the presence of two morphologically different populations of C. c. gracilis in the Tajan River across the Shahid-Rajaei dam, probably due to their limited downstream dispersal and the elimination of upstream migration altogether, due the construction of the dam.     

Morphometric and meristic variation in Galician threespine stickleback populations,northwest Spain

Synopsis We evaluated morphological differentiation among populations of threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, from the Limia and Miño basins (Galicia, NW Spain), the river Karup (Denmark) and Aiguamolls de l’Empordà (Girona, northeast Spain), using multivariate analysis of morphometric and meristic characters. Multivariate discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis uncovered significant differences among the four main groups, between the two groups from Galicia and among populations within the Miño basin. The stickleback from Galicia differed from the Danish group in head and body armour characters. Between the Miño and Limia groups, we found differences in both head and body proportions as well as in number of gill rakers. Within the Miño basin populations varied with respect to head and body armour traits and the number of lower gill rakers. Clustering analysis divided these populations into two groups based on the latter trait: fish from the upper section of river Miño and tributaries (a lower number of lower gill rakers) and fish from the central and lower reaches of the river. Overall, morphometric traits were more useful than meristic ones; however, the two types of data provided congruent information about the morphological differentiation of stickleback populations.     

Morphological differences among three color morphotypes of Sebastes inermis (Scorpaenidae)

 Morphological differences among three color morphotypes occurring almost sympatrically (A, reddish type; B, blackish type; C, brownish type) of Sebastes inermis are clarified. Twenty-six morphometric characters and seven meristic characters were examined on about 20 specimens of each morphotype, 15 of the morphometric characters differing significantly. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the morphometric characters showed morphotype C to differ from the other two morphotypes. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of the morphometric characters showed clear separation of each morphotype. Four meristic characters also differed significantly. Modes of pectoral fin ray counts of morphotypes A, B, and C were 15, 16, and 17, respectively, and the modes of anal fin ray counts of morphotypes B and C were 7 and 8, respectively. Many individuals of morphotype A had seven or eight anal fin rays. These differences suggested that the three morphotypes may be reproductively isolated from each other. Received: October 15, 2001 / Revised: March 14, 2002 / Accepted: April 9, 2002     

Population structure and biology of alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A. aestivalis) in the Saint John River,New Brunswick

Synopsis Examination of more than 2,000 alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (A. aestivalis) from various areas in the Saint John River, N.B., showed differences in their morphometric and meristic characters. They differed also in length and age, compositions, spawning time, length and age at maturity, back-calculated lengths, and growth parameters. Within each species, between-area comparisons showed significant differences in some of their meristic characteristics.To test a homing hypothesis for alewives, a multivariate analysis was performed on eight meristic characters. Two discriminant function programs, discriminant analysis for two groups and a multiple group stepwise discriminant analyses were used. Values of the generalized Mahalanobis D² and percent overlap in frequency distributions of meristic characters suggest that considerable straying of fish, especially between adjacent areas occurs during upstream spawning migration.This article is one of several papers presented at the Second European Ichthyological Congress, Paris, 8–15 September 1976, to be published in Environmental Biology of Fishes.     

珠江卷口鱼不同地理种群的形态变异

运用传统生物形态学和框架分析方法,对珠江水系中栖息于柳江、浔江、西江的卷口鱼(Ptychidio jordani Myers)的形态变异进行了分析。根据高背、平背体型分析了体长/体高比例与地理、性别和年龄的相关性。结果显示:体长/体高比例与年龄呈显著负相关,随着年龄增长,卷口鱼逐渐趋向于高背型;三个江段卷口鱼可数性状数据卡方检验没有显著差异;三个江段卷口鱼可量性状数据和框架数据聚类分析、判别分析和主成分分析显示三个江段的卷口鱼形态差异明显,有一定程度的分化;聚类和主成分分析显示柳江群体变异最大,而西江卷口鱼则分化成两个群体,其中一个与浔江群体关系较近。判别分析构建的判别公式可以区分三个江段四个群体的卷口鱼,判别正确率达到99.2%。不同江段卷口鱼的差异表现在整个鱼体上,不能用单独的一或二个参数进行鉴别。     

Morphological variation in a secondary contact between divergent lineages of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Iberian Peninsula

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological variation of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Duero basin, an Atlantic river basin in the Iberian Peninsula, where a spatial segregation of two divergent lineages was previously reported, based on isozyme, microsatellite and mtDNA data. In these studies, two divergent pure regions (Pisuerga and Lower-course) and several hybrid populations between them were identified. Morphological variation was evaluated in 11 populations representative of the genetic differentiation previously observed in the Duero basin, using multivariate analysis on 12 morphometric and 4 meristic traits. A large differentiation between populations was observed (interpopulation component of variance: 41.8%), similar to that previously detected with allozymes and microsatellites. Morphometric differentiation was also reflected by the high classification success of pure and hybrid individuals to their respective populations, using multivariate discriminant functions (94.1% and 79.0%, respectively). All multivariate and clustering analyses performed demonstrated a strong differentiation between the pure regions. The hybrid populations, though showing large differentiation among them, evidenced an intermediate position between the pure samples. Head and body shape traits were the most discriminant among the morphometric characters, while pectoral rays and gillrakers were the most discriminant among the meristic traits. These results confirmed the high divergence of the brown trout from the Duero basin and suggest some traits on which selection could be acting to explain the spatial segregation observed.     

Identification and discrimination of Electrogena species by numerical methods (Ephemeroptera: Heptageniidae)

Abstract. Nine species of Electrogena from thirty-one populations were investigated on the basis of five meristic and five ratio characters of the larvae. The attribution of populations to species was checked by a cluster analysis based on the generalized distances between pairs. Groups representing species were then subjected to a multiple discriminant analysis; discriminant functions and loadings were calculated. The correct attribution of individuals to species by the discriminant functions ranged from 97% to 100%. The analysis of discriminant loadings shows which characters contribute more to the discrimination of species. Although many species could be identified with some confidence by a sequential monothetic key based on meristic and qualitative characters, the discriminant analysis improves the effectiveness of identification of all species.     

Stock structure analysis of Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) across the Ganga basin (India) using a truss network system

In this study the intraspecific variation of wild Labeo rohita was investigated on the basis of morphometric characters using the truss network system constructed from the fish body. Altogether 435 fish samples were collected from six drainages of the Ganga basin in India. Data were subjected to principal component analysis, discriminant function analysis and univariate analysis of variance. The first principal component (PC1) explained 47.88% of the total variation, while PC2 and PC3 explained 17.22 and 8.33%, respectively. The step‐wise discriminant function analysis retained three variables that significantly discriminated the populations. Using these variables, 62.3% of the original groups were classified into their correct samples and 53.1% of the cross‐validated groups omitting one procedure were classified into their correct samples. Misclassification was higher for samples from the River Gomti (28.6%). Of the total of 31 transformed truss measurements, 30 exhibited significant differences among populations. These findings indicate the presence of six different stocks of L. rohita in the Ganga basin.     

Short-term toxicity of oil-based drilling fluid to the brackish-water shrimp Palaemonetes africanus

Thirty-nine morphometric and five meristic comparisons were carried out on 12-month-old interspecific and intergeneric hybrids of the African clariid catfishes Heterobranchus longifilis, Clarias gariepinus and Clarias anguillaris from experimental earthen ponds in Nigeria. Canonical discriminant analysis accounted for 89.4% of the variations, with eigenvalues of 151.69 and 9.06, respectively, the highest loading in the two axes coming from only 12 variables. A re-analysis based on those 12 variables revealed four major groups among the nine genetic combinations from a plot of axes 1 and 2, which accounted for 95.2% of the variations. The Mahalanobis square distance (D ²) between the offspring of the various mating combinations also revealed the varying levels of relationship between them based on their morphometric and meristic characters. The interspecific hybrids showed some level of heterosis only in the inheritance of the length of the frontal fontanelles compared to that of the putative Clarias species. The study shows the level of similarities in many of the morphometric and merisitic features, especially among the hybrids, and the distinguishing features that can be used to identify the hybrids from their putative parents.     

Morphological variability among seven populations of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in Greece

Morphological variation in five meristic and 21 morphometric characters was examined in the brown trout, Salmo trutta L., from seven distinct streams and rivers from N and NW Greece. Variation within each sample, estimated as the multivariate generalization of the coefficient of variation, did not vary substantially among the populations. The phenetic relationships of these populations were examined using the stepwise discriminant analysis. The taxonomic implications of these results are discussed.     

Morphometric and meristic characteristics of two groups ofLethenteron reissneri

Morphometric and meristic characteristics were compared between two genetically divergent groups ofLethenteron reissneri, collected from Hokkaido and Honshu islands, Japan. Whereas significant differences were found in some morphometric and meristic characters, the ranges overlapped somewhat in all of the characters examined between the two groups. Thus, it was difficult to distinguish exactly between the two groups using only the morphological characters. In sympatric populations of the two groups, no significant differences were found in almost all of the morphometric and meristic characters examined. The two groups ofL. reissneri, which are reproductively isolated from each other, should be regarded as sibling species. Assortative mating, based on morphological features, appears unlikely as the reproductive isolating mechanism between the two groups.     

基于形态学差异探讨秦岭细鳞鲑亚种有效性问题

秦岭细鳞鲑(Brachymystax lenok tsinlingensis Li)的亚种分类地位自命名以来一直饱受争议。研究运用单因素方差分析、主成分分析、判别分析、聚类分析及差异系数检验法, 对秦岭细鳞鲑和黑龙江流域的尖吻细鳞鲑(B. lenok lenok)和钝吻细鳞鲑(B. tumensis)的5项可数性状和34项标准化后的比例性状进行统计分析。单因素方差分析结果表明, 尖吻细鳞鲑、钝吻细鳞鲑和秦岭细鳞鲑在32项比例性状和5项可数性状上存在极显著差异(P<0.01); 主成分分析结果显示, 贡献率较大的前3个主成分的累计贡献率为92.779%; 以逐步判别分析方法选用14个判别效果较好的比例性状构建了3个细鳞鲑类群的判别函数, 综合判别率为99.4%。基于欧式距离矩阵法构建的形态学聚类图显示, 秦岭细鳞鲑和尖吻细鳞鲑距离较近, 而与钝吻细鳞鲑距离较远。据Mayr 75%亚种识别和划分规则, 34项比例性状和5项可数性状中, 尖吻细鳞鲑和秦岭细鳞鲑第一鳃弓外鳃耙数目的差异系数大于1.28, 而钝吻细鳞鲑和秦岭细鳞鲑有31项比例性状和2项可数性状的差异系数高于1.28。据分析结果, 结合秦岭细鳞鲑地理隔离的事实及其与尖吻细鳞鲑和钝吻细鳞鲑的形态差异, 推断秦岭细鳞鲑与黑龙江流域内的尖吻细鳞鲑的形态差异程度至少已达亚种水平。     

Morphometric variation of snakehead fish,Channa punctatus,populations from three Indian rivers

The present study was undertaken with the objective to investigate the intraspecific variation of Channa punctatus on the basis of morphometric characters using the truss network system that was constructed from the fish body. Fish samples were collected from the Narora (n = 62) and Kanpur sites (n = 46) of the Ganga River, the Firozabad site in the Yamuna River (n = 66) and at the Lucknow site of the Gomti River (n = 60). Data were subjected to principal component analysis, discriminant function analysis and univariate analysis of variance. The first principal component (PC I) analysis explained 47.75% of total variation while PC II and PC III explained 8.18 and 7.48%, respectively. The step‐wise discriminant function analysis retained seven variables that significantly discriminated the populations. Using these variables 81.85% of the original groups were classified into their correct samples. Misclassification was higher for the samples from Ganga River (19.6% at the Kanpur site and 19.4% for the Narora site). Of the total 27 transformed morphometric measurements, 23 exhibited significant differences among the populations. These findings indicate the presence of different stocks of fish from the three rivers.     

Comparative analysis of alternative statistical models for differentiation of herring stocks based on meristic characters

A basic stock assessment problem is the mixing and separation of herring populations in their specific areas. Within the transition zone between the North and the Baltic seas (Skagerrak, Kattegat, The Sound) a mixing of two herring populations ( Clupea harengus L.) temporarily takes place. One major component stems from the Baltic Sea (spring spawner), and the other from the North Sea (autumn spawner); each stock exhibits different meristic characteristics. In order to separate the two herring populations, 'pure' learning samples of meristic characters were created in 1995 as differential variables. Mainly gained during two research surveys at two geographically remote areas where a mixing of herring components was relatively unlikely, these learning samples were considered as representative for one or the other herring population. This paper compares the current (ICES) separation approach for herring stock assessment with two alternative methods wherein vertebra counts (vc) are used as meristic characters. The two proposed methods are (a) an inverted variance weighted linear model, and (b) a separation rule based on a quadratic discriminant analysis. The paper summarizes and discusses the results of predicting fractions of the two herring components derived from all three separation models. The underlying example data set stems from a 1991–97 routine Swedish survey in the transition zone. In comparison, the quadratic discriminant analysis separation model was identified as superior to the two other methods. Furthermore, the model suggests a higher degree of mixing of the two herring stocks in the transition area than was previously thought; inter-annual changes in the geographical distribution of the two populations are suggested as being less variable than previously assumed.     

Can members of the south‐western Gila robusta species complex be distinguished by morphological features?

The goal for this project was to re‐examine key morphological characters hypothesized to differentiate Gila intermedia, Gila robusta and Gila nigra and outline methods better suited for making species designations based on morphology. Using a combination of meristic counts, morphological measurements and geometric morphometrics, morphological dissimilarities were quantified among these three putative species. Traditional meristic counts and morphological measurements (i.e. distances between landmarks) were not useful for species identification. Geometric morphometrics, however, identified differences among species, while also suggesting an effect of geographic location on morphological variation. Using canonical variate analysis for the 441 fish sampled in this study, geometric morphometrics accurately predicted true group membership 100% of the time for G. nigra, 97% of the time for G. intermedia and 91% of the time for G. robusta. These results suggest that geometric morphometric analysis is necessary to identify morphological differences among the three species. Geometric morphometric analysis used in this study can be adopted by management officials as a tool to classify unidentified individuals.     

Continental and ecological variance components of European and North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) phenotypes

Juvenile Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) meristic and morphometric characteristics were examined from 47 European and North American river populations. The relative importance of continental origin, stream gradient, overall temperature regime, and seasonal temperatures in explaining the phenotypic variation of these populations was evaluated using multi-way ANOVA. Ecological factors explained a greater percentage of the variance than continental origin for both meristic and morphometric characters. Stream gradient was the most important factor explaining morphometric variation and April-May mean temperature was the most important factor explaining meristic variation.     

Morphological analysis of geographic variation of sea lamprey ammocoetes in Portuguese river basins

The main objective of this study was to compare the morphological variability of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus L.) larvae from the main Portuguese river basins. Samples were collected in rivers Minho, Lima, Cávado, Vouga, Mondego, Tejo and Guadiana. Specimens were analysed in terms of morphometric (linear body measures) and meristic (number of myomeres) characters to investigate the hypothesis of population fragmentation between river basins caused by some degree of homing behaviour. The discriminant analysis showed a morphological segregation of the studied populations based on the characters head, tail and branchial length. The discriminatory power of the meristic characters was comparatively weaker, with the number of trunk myomeres, and to some extent the head myomeres, being responsible for the reduced separation between groups. Both analyses were consistent in identifying the cephalic region as the most important morphological feature to discriminate populations of sea lamprey larvae in the Portuguese territory. The largest cephalic region of the ammocoetes sampled in the northern river basins may be responsible for a better feeding efficiency and, consequently, higher values of condition factor. Guest editors: S. Dufour, E. Prévost, E. Rochard & P. Williot Fish and diadromy in Europe (ecology, management, conservation)     

我国华鳊属鱼类形态差异及其物种有效性的研究

为探讨华鳊属鱼类种间和种内居群间的形态差异及其物种有效性,采用多变量形态度量,结合传统分类方法,获得该属鱼类不同地理居群共224尾标本的32个测量性状和7个可数性状数据,并做主成分分析。在可数性状上,海南华鳊各居群间无差异,但明显不同于其他种类;四川华鳊与大眼华鳊差别明显,与伍氏华鳊之间也存在较大程度的差异;大眼华鳊的乌江和珠江居群之间存在显著差异,而伍氏华鳊各地理居群差异不明显。在可量性状上,四川华鳊和大眼华鳊的乌江居群都明显区别于其他种或居群,而大眼华鳊的珠江居群与伍氏华鳊之间以及海南华鳊各居群之间没有明显差异。对上述结果分析认为：四川华鳊和海南华鳊为两个有效的物种;大眼华鳊的乌江标本是一个未被描述的物种,而珠江居群和伍氏华鳊各居群应属同一个种。