Variation in scale shape among alternative sympatric phenotypes of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus from two lakes in Scotland

Authors: Garduño-Paz, M. V.; Demetriou, M.; Adams, C. E.

Source: Journal of Fish Biology, Volume 76, Number 6, April 2010 , pp. 1491-1497(7)

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Abstract:

Landmark-based geometric morphometric analysis was used to detect differences in scale shape between ecologically distinct phenotypes of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus coexisting in the same lake. Relative warp analysis and standard multivariate analyses of the partial warps, obtained after a Procrustes superimposition, showed that scale landmarks were efficient in discriminating among two closely related alternative phenotypes within each of the two lakes. In Loch Tay, S. alpinus exhibited a bimodal body size-frequency distribution among sexually mature fish, whereas in Loch Awe, S. alpinus are unimodal in body size but segregated into two distinct spawning phenotypes. In both lakes, alternative phenotypes showed significant differences in foraging ecology, habitat use and life history. It is probable that differences in scale shape reflect differences in ecology of these forms.

Keywords: geometric morphometrics; phenotypic variation; scale morphology; spawning phenotypes

Document Type: Regular paper

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02584.x

Affiliations: 1: Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment (SCENE), University of Glasgow, Rowardennan, Glasgow G63 0AW, Scotland, U.K.

Publication date: 2010-04-01