How an invasive alga species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caulerpa taxifolia</Emphasis>) induces changes in foraging strategies of the benthivorous fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mullus surmuletus</Emphasis> in coastal Mediterranean ecosystems

The foraging behaviour variability of three striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus L. 1758) populations with respect to the vegetation cover was examined along the French Mediterranean coasts. We tested both the carrying capacity of different habitats and the hypothesis of a food segregation by the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia (Vahl) C. Agardh, on the functioning of benthic fish populations. The results indicated a significant site effect on M. surmuletus foraging behaviour and movements. The vegetation cover may play an important role in modifying the striped red mullet cost of foraging (sampling effort) and thus its strategy of prey capture. As long as the cover of marine phanerogams and/or macrophyte algae (Caulerpaceae) increases, the foraging budget and the distances covered in search of prey decrease significantly. Similarly, the striped red mullet increases the prospected sample periods to augment its foraging success, swimming above the bottom. These changes are related to the development of a dense superficial network of plagiotropic rhizomes and stolons, and to the reduction of space between fronds that limits the accessibility to resources and may increase intra-specific food competition. The role of C. taxifolia does not differ from that of other marine phanerogams but induces significant changes in the structure of Mullidae populations at the local level. The rapid expansion of Caulerpaceae in the Mediterranean Sea could constitute a real threat for the balance of the marine coastal biodiversity and the ecology of M. surmuletus, which is considered a flagship species for coastal Mediterranean demersal fisheries.     

Morphological variation and relationships of Georgian populations of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi

Georgia is considered as one of the regions where for the first time wild growing grapevine plants were used and taken into cultivation by men. An ampelographic and ampelometric study of leaf characters and flower landmark morphometrics was carried out in seven populations of wild grapevine located in four river basins of three geographic regions – Western (1 popul.), Eastern (5 popul.) and Southern (1 popul.) Georgia, and then compared using principal component analysis and multivariate discriminant analysis allowing the populations to be distinguished. Lengths of main leaf veins and nectaries in male flowers were the variables, which allowed the best discrimination among populations. A mutation leading to white-fruited grapevine is found in one population. Pubescence varies within populations and even within an individual genome and could be used as a discriminant trait only in combination with shapes and sizes of leaves and other morphological characters. The results revealed significant differences among populations located in different geographic regions of the Southern Caucasus area, but the five investigated populations from Eastern Georgia differ only insignificantly. The high morphological variability of wild grapevine in Georgia might be considered as characterizing the large gene pool that contributed to the domestication process of grapevine.     

Morphological variability of the shape of striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in relation to stock discrimination between the Bay of Biscay and the eastern English Channel

Truss analysis and length measurements were made on 168 striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus. Multivariate statistical analyses with principal component analysis and partial redundancy analysis (pRDA) were used on these measurements to evaluate the influence of maturity, sex and geographical area distribution on body shape. Truss measurements were important to quantify and discriminate changing body shape, presumably due to changing environmental conditions. Sexual dimorphism was not observed and juveniles could be distinguished from adults based on their body shape. More importantly, M. surmuletus occurring in different geographical areas could be differentiated using this method. Based on pRDA, a significant difference of head morphological dimensions was observed between populations occurring in the eastern English Channel and those occurring in the Bay of Biscay, suggesting that fish from these areas could represent two subpopulations.     

Parasites as fish population tags and pseudoreplication problems: the case of striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the Spanish Mediterranean

Studies of parasites as fish population tags often apply a single round of sampling to identify potential stocks or predict harvest localities. However, the lack of replication generates pseudoreplication, implicitly assuming that infection levels are more similar between samples from the same locality than between samples from different localities. We evaluated this assumption in the case of the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in three localities of the Spanish Mediterranean separated by c. 300 km. Samples of 25 fish of similar size were collected in each locality in the summer and autumn of two consecutive years. Prevalence and abundance of three long-lived parasite taxa differed significantly among localities, indicating their potential as stock indicators. However, a cluster analysis (for prevalence) and a MANOVA (for abundance) indicated strong inter-sample variability, even within the same locality, with poor spatial segregation among samples. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on the abundance of 17 parasite taxa correctly assigned over 80% of fish to their locality, and 95% bootstrap confidence intervals of percent classified fish per locality were narrow, indicating good and stable predictive power. However, when a LDA based on data from the first year was used to predict the locality of fish from the second year, predictive power dropped drastically (46% of correct allocation). Overall, we interpret that parasite communities of mullets change at a much lower spatial scale than that adopted in this study. This finding strongly suggests the need for proper replication to make reliable inferences about stock structure in fish populations based on parasitological data.     

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.     

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.     

Meristic variation among world hatchery stocks of rainbow trout,Salmo gairdneri Richardson

Synopsis Sixteen meristic characters were examined among 10 stocks of rainbow trout to establish their inter- and intrastock variability and relative discriminating power. The number of vertebrae, dorsal fin rays, scales above and below and lateral line, oblique scale rows and pectoral fin rays were found to be the most useful meristic characters in identifying stocks. Examination of the extent of meristic divergence among 10 hatchery or naturalized stocks from various regions of the world, using analysis of variance, the generalized distance function and per cent overlap, revealed that each stock exhibited highly significant differences in at least one meristic character, thereby demonstrating a high degree of intraspecific variability in meristic expression.In multivariate terms, stocks from Idaho and Alaska were almost totally divergent from all other stocks examined. Multivariate analysis of meristic features proves to be a useful method for identifying the extent of phenotypic variability among and within divergent stocks of rainbow trout. The observed meristic variability in test stocks of hatchery fish is seemingly genetically set within the limits previously described for native populations of rainbow trout.     

Morphometrics of human auditory ossicles from Antinoe Necropolis (Egypt)

Historical evidence suggests that the Christian Coptic population of Antinoe necropolis, probable descendants of Dynastic Egyptians, may reflect admixture from Greek and Roman populations. Within the anthropological surveys on Antinoe skeletal remains (A.D. 300–600), a sample of auditory ossicles was compared with a Dynastic Egyptian sample (“G. Marro” osteological collection), from Asiut and Gebelen Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were applied, to this end. The auditory ossicles are generally larger in the Coptic group; in both groups shape measurements have a high variability, while size measurements are relatively invariable. Univariate variances are homogeneous but the means are significantly different. This suggests genetic changes, but identical patterns of variation. The stepwise discriminant functions analysis and the Generalized Distance, suggesting a biological heterogeneity in the Antinoe sample in spite of some similarity of the two groups, tend to support this. Further analyses of the auditory ossicles in Greek and Roman populations are however needed to confirm the gene flow hypothesis in the Antinoe population, suggested by historical data.     

Cross‐amplification of 10 new isolated polymorphic microsatellite loci for red mullet (Mullus barbatus) in striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus)

Ten polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for the red mullet (Mullus barbatus). Allele variability was tested on both the red mullet and its congener the striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus). Characterization of 30 individuals of both species from the western Mediterranean showed moderate to high allelic diversity ranging from two to 26 alleles per locus (mean 10.9). Three loci showed departures from Hardy–Weinberg proportions. No evidence of significant association between genotypes at pairs of loci was observed. These polymorphic loci could be suitable for population genetic assessments of both species.     

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。     

Investigating food limitations in wild fisheries: the attendance and growth responses of fish at an anthropogenic feeding station within a temperate estuary

To investigate whether wild fish populations are food limited, this study explored whether the provision of supplementary food had a positive effect on the abundance, condition and growth characteristics of estuarine fish assemblages in New Zealand. Feed (7690 kg) was delivered from an anthropogenic feeding station over a 60-week period to a naturally occurring assemblage of wild fish. Yellow-eyed mullet (Aldrichetta forsteri) of juvenile, sub-adult and newly matured size classes were the dominant species actively foraging at the feeding station throughout its operation, whereas larger piscivorous species visited and foraged from the feed station over the summer period only. Other species were present in the wider area of Nelson Haven, but not at the feed station. No obvious changes in the condition factor of yellow-eyed mullet were observed across the period of monitoring, and no changes in their catchability were detected – although marked seasonal variation in catch rates was observed. Results from tag-recapture data identify that the length-based growth rates of yellow-eyed mullet recaptured near the feed station were higher than those of tagged individuals recaptured at a nearby comparison site, and were higher than the growth rates observed in natural populations of yellow-eyed mullet in the wider region. Shifts in the median size of fish, as observed by acoustic observations, agreed with the tag-recapture data. Although some of the results identified were not amenable to statistical analyses, the attendance of yellow-eyed mullet at the feeding station, in combination with the improved estimates of growth by most of the techniques employed, indicates that yellow-eyed mullet are food limited in their natural environment and that the growth performance of these fish can be positively affected by the increased availability of food.     

Morphological variation among populations of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae) from the Mediterranean

The amount of osteological variation among 11 Italian killifish Aphanius fasciatus populations was examined by the univariate and multivariate analysis of 40 morphometric and meristic variables of the skull and vertebral column. Populations were sampled in three geographically distinct areas (the Adriatic, Sardinia and Sicily). The statistical analysis confirmed that several populations were well differentiated. In particular, discriminant analysis revealed a strong discriminating power of the morphometric variables. Morphometrics of the vertebrae, bony elements of the pharyngeal jaws, supraoccipital and parasphenoid were the most important in discriminating populations. The dendrogram obtained by UPGMA cluster analysis shows the separation of the south-eastern Sicilian populations, that of the Sardinian populations and that of the central-northern Sicilian plus Adriatic populations, as well as the isolation of the Sicilian population from Pantano Viruca and of the Sardinian populations from Pauli Figu from all the others. The significance of the observed differentiation pattern is discussed.     

Genetic and morphological variation of Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) along the northern Pacific coast of Nicaragua

Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) dominates in tidally active areas of neotropical mangrove forests. Despite the ecological and economic importance of this species, we still know little about the genetic structure and diversity of its natural populations. In particular, Nicaraguan populations have not yet been investigated although they could be important for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of R. mangle in Mesoamerica. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic and morphological variability of 4 populations sampled along the northwestern coast of Nicaragua. Microsatellite analysis showed higher levels of allelic diversity (30 alleles and a mean number of allele per locus per population = 6.42) than reported for the same species in other sites of tropical America. This variability could be attributed to the existence of a glacial refugium in the studied area and/or to repeated introgression among closely related species. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that there was little but significant variation among the sampled sites suggesting that the studied populations cannot be considered as a single panmictic group, although they are closely related. This result was confirmed by the Bayesian analysis and UPGMA dendrogram showing three genetically distinct clusters. Bayesian analysis of migration rates showed that propagule dispersion associated with marine currents is an important factor shaping the observed genetic structure. The scatterplot from discriminant analysis indicated significant phenotypic differences between two groups, mainly related to specific leaf area variation. The morphological similarity between PR and PO was consistent with the results of molecular analysis, supporting the common origin of these two populations. Nevertheless, we did not find a significant statistical correlation between microsatellite and morphological data. In conclusion, the results reported here contribute to a better understanding of R. mangle genetic structure and would provide baseline information to guide land managers in implementing conservation initiatives in Nicaragua.     

Genetic and morphological variation of three freshwater lake populations of Coilia ectenes (Engraulidae)

Population structure of the important commercial fish, Coilia ectenes was investigated in samples from three freshwater lakes in the Eastern China using a multivariate approach of morphometries and mitochondrial DNA control region sequencing. A total of eighteen morphological distances of truss method and eight morphometric variables were taken from each fish. Multivariate analyses of the morphometric data revealed significant morphological differences among the three lake populations, especially for those samples from Taihu Lake. Discriminant functions were used to compare sites, and these permitted an 83% success rate in distinguishing fish from the three sites. However, no obviously geographical differentiation was found among those populations of C. ectenes based on the genetic data. In the AMOVA analysis, only 2.2% genetic variability came from different populations, and most of them were present within the sub-populations. Experience a recent population expansion and some movement of fish among those areas, quite possibly enough to bring about relative genetic homogeneity, but there is insufficient to prevent the three populations from differing phenotypically. The diversified environmental factors may be playing an important role in shaping morphological variations among those populations.     

Fish ecoregions of Kansas: stream fish assemblage patterns and associated environmental correlates

Synopsis Principal components analysis was performed on fish presence/absence data for 39 common fish species from 410 stream sites in Kansas. The analysis confirmed ten ecologically meaningful fish assemblages, based on species associations. Factor scores based on these assemblages were then clustered into six geographic areas or fish ecoregions. Canonical discriminant analysis identified environmental variables that distinguished the derived fish ecoregions. Mean annual runoff, mean annual growing season, and discharge appear most important. Mean width, mean depth, chloride concentration, water temperature, substrate type, gradient, and percent of pool habitat were less important. Correspondence exists between these fish ecoregions and the patterns of physiographic regions, river basins, geology, soil, and potential natural vegetation in Kansas. The multivariate statistical approach used to classify fish ecoregions should have considerable potential value for fish assessment and management purposes in areas other than the state of Kansas.     

Biochemical genetic variability in brown hares (Lepus europaeus) from Greece

Allozyme variability of 91 brown hares (Lepus europaeus) from seven regions in Greece was compared to existing data of Bulgarian populations to test the hypothesis of the occurrence of specific alleles in Greece, likely stemming from an isolated Late Pleistocene refugial population in the southern Balkans. This hypothesis is particularly suggested by some subfossil Late Pleistocene hare remains in Greece and the reported high mtDNA diversity in Greek hares. Allozymic diversity could be higher in Greek hares than in hares from neighboring regions as a result of the accumulation of variants in a long-lasting Pleistocene refugium. Conversely, Greek hares could exhibit reduced genetic diversity because of long-lasting low effective population sizes during the Late Glacial Maximum and a lower chance of postglacial gene flow from other populations into this rather marginal part in the southern Balkans. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis of proteins from 35~loci revealed three alleles (Es-1 ^–162, Pep-2 ¹¹⁴, Mpi ⁸⁸) at low frequencies, which were not found in Bulgarian or any other brown hare population. In contrast, some alleles from the populations from Bulgaria and other regions of Europe were absent in the Greek samples. Population genetic statistics indicated only a slight tendency of increased gene pool diversity in Greek hares, little substructuring in Greek and Bulgarian populations, respectively, as well as an only slightly lower level of gene flow between the two neighboring regions, as compared to the gene flow within each region. The results conform to the hypothesis of a Late Pleistocene refugial population in the southern Balkans, with some few specific nuclear gene pool characteristics, but little effect on the overall genetic differentiation between Greek and Bulgarian hares.     

Habitat‐specific trends in ontogeny of body shape in stickleback from coastal archipelago: Potential for rapid shifts in colonizing populations

We investigated ontogenetic trends in body shape of 54 freshwater (48 lake, seven stream) and six anadromous populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) from the Haida Gwaii archipelago off the west coast of Canada. Multivariate analysis of covariance on the partial warp scores generated from 12 homologous landmarks on 1,958 digital images of subadult and adult male stickleback indicated that there was considerable variability of population ontogenetic slopes. We used discriminant function analysis to quantify body shape and determined that anadromous stickleback, which are ancestral to the freshwater populations, have a strongly negative ontogenetic slope (?5.62; increased streamlining with increased size). All freshwater populations exhibit a more positive slope (91% differed significantly from the marine slope), with the differences being most accentuated in populations from ponds and streams. In pristine lakes, ontogenetic slope could be predicted by lake volume as well as multivariate measures of habitat. Evidence from field transplant experiments of one of the intact populations indicates a rapid change (5 years) from allometric to isometric growth, equivalent to about half of the total slope variation among intact populations on the archipelago. We interpret this shift as developmental plasticity and suggest this may comprise the precursor for selection of optimal body shapes in these stickleback populations. J. Morphol., 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Hierarchical organization of genetic variation in the Costa Rican livebearing fish Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora (Poeciliidae)

I examined the geographic distribution of genetic variation in the livebearing freshwater fish Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora in northwestern Costa Rica as revealed by allozymes and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Allelic variability at 11 enzyme-coding loci surveyed across 12 localities revealed marked genetic differentiation among populations within drainages (0_P= 0.36) and among drainages within regions (0_D=0.17), but not between northern and southern geographic regions (0_R=– 0.02). Allozyme variation was hierarchically organized such that populations found within stream drainages were more similar to each other than to populations found in adjacent drainages, a result confirmed by cluster analysis. In contrast to the allozyme data, there was extremely little DNA sequence variation among populations in the mitochondrial control region (3 variable nucleotide positions out of 444 bp examined). The difference in genetic divergence between allozyme and mtDNA markers was unexpected and is discussed in terms of biogeographical colonization events and a molecular selective swéep on the mitochondrial genome, both processes that could explain the lack of mitochondrial variability in this highly subdivided species.     

International study on Artemia. LIV. Morphological study of Artemia with emphasis to Old World strains. II. Parthenogenetic populations

Eleven morphometric and one meristic character in 15 parthenogeneticArtemia populations have been studied by using discriminant andcluster analysis as well as scanning electron microscopy.Discriminant analysis revealed five main groups of morphologicalpatterns: (i) the coastal Chinese populations together with apopulation from Kazakhstan, (ii) the inland Chinese salt lakepopulations, (iii) the Greek populations, (iv) one African populationfrom Namibia and (v) a Chinese population from Xuyu (Jiangsuprovince). Cluster analysis was not always in agreement withdiscriminant analysis and these results are discussed.     

Swiss Mattenklee landraces,a distinct and diverse genetic resource of red clover (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trifolium pratense</Emphasis> L.)

Genetic variability within and among 19 landraces and cultivars of red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) was investigated by means of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis in order to assess the potential value of Swiss Mattenklee landraces as genetic resources for plant breeding and the preservation of biodiversity. Populations were classified into three groups according to their origin and agronomic features: Mattenklee landraces (8), Mattenklee cultivars (8) and field clover cultivars (3). Analysis of molecular variance based on 276 polymorphic AFLP markers revealed 80% of total variability to be due to variability within populations while 12% were attributed to variability among groups. Stepwise discriminant analysis identified a subset of 126 AFLP markers which best separated individual plants into the three respective groups. Genetic distances between populations were considerably larger among groups than among populations within the same group, providing further evidence for the genetic distinction between Mattenklee landraces, Mattenklee cultivars and field clover cultivars. AFLP markers identified two landrace clusters, containing three and four populations respectively, which, together with one additional landrace, may sufficiently represent the genetic variability of all eight landraces investigated. The results of this study strongly suggest that Swiss Mattenklee landraces form a genetically distinct group of red clover. The data obtained provide criteria on how to efficiently manage, preserve and exploit Mattenklee germplasm.