Geometric morphometric analysis of scale shape of different populations of salmo trutta in Namak Lake, Urmia and Caspian Sea Basins

This study aimed to compare the scale shape of five populations of salmo trutta fromthe Namak Lake, Urmia Lake and Caspian Sea basins, using geometric morphometrictechnique. For this purpose a numbers of 130 specimens were sampled from Lighvan,Mardagh, Karaj, Jajrood and Haraz Rivers by electrofishing. After scale preparationprocess, they were photographed and five landmark points were defined and digitizedon 2D picture of one scale photograph of each fish. The landmark date weresuperimposed using a generalized procrusts method and analyzed using PCA ,CVAand cluster analysis. The results revealed a significant differences between the scaleshape of studied populations (P<0.0001), except between Lighvan and Karaj, Harazand Karaj, Haraz and Mardagh, Jajrood and Haraz, Jajrood and Mardagh populations.The observed differences between populations were related to length and elongationof scales.

Keywords:

Geometric morphometric , Scale shape , salmo trutta