Body shape variations in Kura barb populations (Barbus lacerta Heckel, 1843)

The objective of this study was to determine the body shape variation among Kurabarb (B. lacerta) populations in the Urmia, Tigris and Caspian Sea basins usinglandmark-based geometric morphometrics. A total of 128 specimens were sampledfrom 3 basins of Urmie, Tigris and Caspian Sea. The left side of each specimen wasphotographed using digital camera and 14 Landmark-points were digitized on 2Dimages using TpsDig2. The landmark data after generalized procrustes analysis wereanalyzed using PCA and CVA and the patterns of body shape differences among thestudied population were illustrated in deformation grid in relation to consensusconfiguration of all specimens. CVA analysis displayed somewhat differences amongall populations. The results showed habitat-associated morphological divergence,phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary process of body shape changes among studiedpopulations reflecting a relationship between the geographical distance and thedegree of morphological divergence among populations in response to environmentalfactors in their habitats. The result revealed considering as the populations as separatestocks.

Keywords:

Phenotypic plasticity , Landmark-based geometric morphometric , Kura barb , Barbus lacerta