In this study, the morphological variation of Oxynoemacheilus bergianus was studied in the different rivers of the Namak Lake and Caspian Sea basins using traditional morphometric method. For this purpose, a total of 76 specimens were collected from eight river systems and after fixation into 4% buffered formalin, transfered to the laboratory, a total of 31 morphological characteristics were measured using digital calipers. After standardization, the morphometric data were analyzed using multivariate analysis including principal component analysis (PCA), canonical variate analysis with p-value obtained from MANOVA (MANOVA/CVA) and cluster analysis (CA). The results showed significant differences in 24 traits between the studied populations (P<0.05), which anal fin depth and the ventral-anal fin distances were main discriminative ones. CVA analysis was able to separate the studied populations. Also, CA placed the Gharesu and Sefid populations in a clade and separate from other populations. The observed differences may be related to phenotype plasticity in response to environmental conditions. |
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