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In this study, 13 different biotypes of Praon exsoletum were investigated based on selected morphological characteristics. This species is specialized parasitoid of Therioaphistrifolii on alfalfa and clover. Traditional morphometric analysis was used to obtain three meristic and 15 continuous characters. The analysis of variance showed that P. exsoletumbiotypes differ in many morphometric traits. Moreover, all biotypes displayed their maximum differences in six morphological characters as follows:(1) number of antennal segments;(2) inter-tentorial/tentorio-ocular distance;(3) length/width of ovipositor sheath;(4) length/width of second flagellar segment; (5)length/width of third flagellar segment and (6) number of longitudinal placodes on second flagellar segment. The discriminant function analysis indicated45.23% of correct assignment of specimens to the a priori designated groups of specimens. The results indicated an overlapping of analyzed biotypes according to selected morphological characters. On the other hand, geometric morphometrics analysis applied on forewings, the size and the shape revealed statistically significant differences. Eleven homologous landmarks were selected. The ANOVA (p < 0.000) and MANOVA (P= 0.000) showed that there were significant differences in size and shape of forewings. Visualization of the distribution of individuals was presented using Principal component analysis and Canonical variate analysis. On whole, the result of this investigation showed that R1 and the radial veins (end of Rs and M) tend to be short. Furthermore, the USAbiotype introduced is positioned near all other analyzed biotypes of P. exsoletum. Among the selected morphological characters, four characters namely (1) length of wing/length of R1; (2) length of wing/length of stigma; (3) length of first/third flagellar segment and (4) width of first/third flagellar segment were first considered for morphometric study in Praon and P. exsoletum species. Our results showed lack of subspecies for P. exsoletum.

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Spotted Amber Ladybird, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is an important predator of aphids and some other insect pests. Since shape and size variation may affect biological characteristics of an insect, multivariate analysis of shape variations in four geographically isolated populations of H. variegata (Isfahan, Shahrekord, Shiraz, Yasuj) was performed based on eight landmarks of hind wing. According to the analysis, significant difference in weight matrices (as shape variable) was detected. The cluster analysis separated Isfahan population from other populations. According to ANOVA, we found significant difference in centroid size (as size variable), so that the two populations, Isfahan and Shahrekord, had larger wings than the two other populations. Distribution of 80 individuals based on partial warps on the relative warp axis placed Isfahan population in a separate group while the others had overlap and irregular distribution.  

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Background: The concept of allometry states that the relative rate of change of a system unit is a constant fraction of the relative rate of change of the entire system, or of another part of the system.This concept is stated as a nonlinear relationship and has been verified in a variety of natural systems.
Materials and Methods:The allometric relations in various phases of basin evolution in forms of static and dynamic models wasinvestigated.In order to study the dynamic allometry, a model consistingof two basins was developed.The evolution stages and the erosion changes caused by artificial rainfall and tectonic movements and also in static form (natural basins) were monitored.
Results: The existence of allometricrelations in drainage basins that are progressing toward the equilibrium (natural basins and basins affected by erosion) are significant and verifiable.This kind of relations do not exist in tectonic affected basins that were moving away from the equilibrium.
Conclusions:Allometric relations in drainage basins can define different states of system such as equilibrium. Moreover, any factor that causes the basin to move away from equilibrium needs to have an initial effect on basin relations to cause disorder in the system,and this change,in many cases,can be formulated or demonstrated by allometric model. Therefore the allometric equations could be considered an important tool in predicting the evolution of drainage basins and assessing their performance in the past and present.  

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Twelve species of the genus Aphelenchoides were collected and identified based on morphological and morphometric characters from different regions in North, South and Western Iran. Among collected species i. e. A. centralis, A. cibolensis, A. cyrtus, A. hamatus, A. helicus, A. huntensis, A. limberi, A. obtusicaudatus, A. sprophilus, A. sacchari, A. spicomucronatus and A.tuzeti, three species namely A. cibolensis, A. hamatus and A. saprophilus are new records from Iran. Description, measurements, line drawings and microscopic photographs for Iranian population of these species are provided. Aphelenchoides helicus that was previously reportedwithout description, is described and illustrated as well.

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Eight species of Paratylenchus were collected and identified from vineyards in Kermanshah province, western Iran. Description, measurements, line drawings and microscopic photographs are provided for two new records namely P. humilis and P. prunii. Paratylenchus humilis have a lip region truncate-conoid with distinct small submedian lobes in lateral view of female head, stylet shorter than 40 µm, three lateral lines and distinct vulval flaps. Paratylenchus prunii have a lip region rounded (slightly truncate in some specimens), without distinct submedian lobes in lateral view of female head, stylet shorter than 40 µm, four lateral lines and distinct vulval flaps. Male of P. straeleni is reported for the first time.  

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The common pistachio psyllid, Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt & Lauterer (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), is a key pest of pistachio trees in Iran. Both psyllid nymphs and adults directly damage pistachio; they extract large quantities of sap from tree and produce honeydew and cause deformation of leaves resulting in great economic damage. Little is known about the intraspecific variation of common pistachio psyllid in regions with stressed conditions, such as areas under high levels of pesticide application. Therefore, this study using geometric morphometrics was designed to 1) evaluate morphological differences in wing shape in populations under different levels of pesticide application in Kerman province as the main pistachio producer in the world, and 2) search for a link between the morphological data and previously studied molecular data. The populations were collected from regions with high and low pesticide applications. The results showed that wing shape (P< 0.01) and size (P< 0.01) are different between populations exposed to different chemical control programs. Based on the results, narrower wing shape was found in psyllid population in stressed environment (population with extreme chemical control programs). In spite of allometric growth, significant shape differences still remain when the data are adjusted to constant size, which showed the important role of genetic changes in the observed morphological changes. Moreover, links between morphologic and previously studied molecular data were revealed. Based on the results, it appears that an evolutionary resistance process is developing, therefore insecticide resistance management programs, in the regions under investigation, is recommended.

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During a nematode survey and identification of plant-parasitic nematodes in Iran, several species belonging to the infraorder Tylenchomorpha were collected and identified from different localities of West Azerbayjan, Kermanshah and Golestan provinces. Among which three species, namely Aphelenchoides xui (Aphelenchoididae), Paratylenchus recisus (Tylenchulidae)and Tylenchus skarduensis (Tylenchidae) are new records for Iran nematode fauna. Description, measurements, line drawings and microscopic photographs are provided for these new records.

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Lucilia cuprina and Lucilia sericata are two closely related species due to their similarity in morphology, habitat, distribution, and economic importance. Even though other methods have segregated the species, the aspect of comparative studies on geometric morphometrics and cuticular hydrocarbon composition in species variability is yet to be explored in these species. This study was conducted to assess variability between the two species and between the sexes. Wing shapes of 187 specimens of both species were analysed by geometric morphometric techniques. Landmarks 11, 10, 6 and 9, which corresponds to the intersection between the medial and the radial medial veins, medial and branched cubitus veins, distal end of radius vein (R2 + 3 vein) and curve point of medial vein, respectively, contributed significantly to the variability within and between species. Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of four randomly collected individuals each of male and female L. cuprina and L. sericata, were assessed using GC-MS. Octadecene, Celidoniol, Hexatriacontane, Tetracontane and Tetracontane were identified as common for both species. 9-Octadecenal(z) and Tetracosane-11-decyl being recorded as the most abundant hydrocarbons in male and female L. cuprina, and 13-methylheptacosane and Tetratetracontane in male and female L. sericata, respectively. Diagnostic characters indicating the variabilities can be used for the identification of the species.

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This research explains the morphometric characteristics of Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman in Tehran Province. 180 adult female mites were collected from three different colonies of Apis mellifera L. in three apiaries during September 2003 to May 2004. These colonies were divided according to three altitudes-less than 1000m, 1000-1500m and more than 1500m above the sea level. The morphological characteristics of mite samples were examined using light microscopy. Measurements of mite specimens in-cluding body lengths, widths, mean size of leg segments and chelicerae were obtained from 180 females. Data were analyzed using the SAS package. The results revealed that: with 95% confidence intervals, body lengths were 1152.6-1218.9 (for less than 1000m alti-tude), 1163.2-1220.7 (for 1000-1500m altitude) and 1167.1-1228.3 (for grater than 1500m altitude). Also, body widths for those apiaries with 95% confidence intervals were: 1709.8-1818.2, 1712.1-1819.5 and 1720.4-1820.6, respectively. Mean body lengths were 1197.2, 1199.2 and 1200.1 and mean body widths were 1775.6, 1781.7 and 1789.9, respec-tively. No significant differences were observed between the size of leg segments and che-licerae among specimens studied. Comparison between measurements of body lengths and widths of specimens which were collected from Firozkoh (above 1500m altitude), Karaj(1000-1500m altitude) and apiaries in Varamin (less than 1000m altitude) in Tehran Province revealed that there was no significant difference between the three colonies. These specimens were also differ from V. jacobsoni. The results showed that our speci-mens were V. destructor not V. jacobsoni. Moreover, the Tehran Province specimens are similar to V. destructor in that they are less spherical than V. jacobsoni.

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Insect caste development and their morphological divergence are not yet studied well, especially in ants. However, the role of developmental and genetic integration in evolution is contentious. In our study, we tried to reveal the quantitative genetics selection responses, phylogenetic signal, and evolutionary origin of weaver ant female castes (queen, major and minor). The widening and lengthening of the head region, as well as the well-developed mandibular process, are the major heritable characteristics found in the major worker ants. We hypothesized that these conserved and heritable characteristics may help the major worker ants for defense, foraging purposes and other nest-building function aspects. However, in the case of minor worker, small heads and the reduced mandibular process are the more heritable characteristics. Compared to worker ants, in queen, the highly heritable and conserved morphological character is well-developed thoracic regions and large-sized abdomen. It is interesting to note that there is no detectable phylogenetic signal across the female cast of the Asian weaver ants, which suggests that the caste development and morphological divergence are environmentally modulated not evolutionary conserved. From this study, we concluded that caste-specific morphological shape and size are highly conserved traits and these traits are modulated by their niche preferences.

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Aims: In the present study, the morphometric and meristic traits of Alburnus chalcoides from the Chelvand (Astara), Khalesara (Talesh), Siahdarvishan (Anzali wetland), Sefid and Pol (Guilan Province), Tonekabon and Babol (Mazandaran Province) rivers were compared.
Materials & Methods: For this purpose, a total of 170 specimens were collected from above-mentioned rivers. In the Lab some 39 morphometric and 10 meristic traits were recorded. All data were analyzed by using One-Way ANOVA, Duncan test, Kruskal-Wallis, principal component analysis (PCA), canonical variate analysis (CVA) and cluster analysis.
Finding: The results showed a significant difference in 36 morphometric and five meristic traits among the studied populations. CVA result separated the studied populations in the southern parts of the Caspian Sea basin. Also, cluster analysis placed the Chelvand River population in a distinct clade. 
Conclusion: This study showed high diversity of morphometric compared to meristic traits and better performance of these traits in population's distinction.

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This study was conducted to investigate the morphological variation of Planiliza abu in the Tireh (Tigris Basin), Kor (Kor River Basin) and Jegin (Hormozgan Basin) rivers using traditional (TM) and geometric morphometric (GM) methods. For this purpose, a total of 62 specimens were collected using electrofishing device and Salik net. In the Lab, 21 morphometric traits were measured. Then, to extract the morphological data in the geometric method, 16 landmark-points were defined and digitized on the photographs taken from the left side of fish using tpsDig2 software. The results showed that the studied populations had significant differences in 7 morphometric traits (P<0.05). The differences in the geometric method were those of the head size, body depth, pectoral fin position and caudal peduncle length. Based on the results, GM method showed higher accuracy to reveal the morphological variations in the generalist species of Planiliza abu, which can inhabit a wide range of habitats.

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In this study, the morphometric and meristic characteristics of Psettodes erumei in two regions of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Jask were investigated. Up to30 Psettodes erumei fish were prepared from each region and after performing bioassay operations, 29 morphometric characteristics and 9 meristic characteristics were measured and counted. According to the results, the average coefficients of variation in the morphometric characteristics of right-handed and left-handed fish in Bandar Abbas region are 0.34 and 0.41, respectively, and the average coefficient of variation of meristic factors of right-handed and left-handed fish is 0.14 and 0.17. The mean coefficients of variation of morphometric factors of right-handed and left-handed fish of Bandar Jask are 0.25 and 0.24, respectively, and the mean coefficient of variation of meristic factors of right-handed and left-handed fish is 0.10 and 0.10. Also, Psettodes erumei fish had a significant difference in 25 morphometric factors and 1 meristic factor between these regions (P <0.05). The height of the anterior fin, the height of the dorsal fin, the height of the ventral fin on the dark and light surface, the length of the base of the thoracic fin on the dark and light surface and the width of the mouth are the most important morphometric factors. There was no significant difference between the parameters measured in Psettodes erumei fish in any similar area (P> 0.05). According to these results, the differences between the morphometric and meristic characteristics are more pronounced, which is itself due to different environmental conditions in these two regions.

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Ditylenchus azarbaijanensis n. sp. is described and illustrated based upon morphological and morphometric characters. The new species is mainly characterized by having six lines in the lateral field, rudimentary postuterine sac (PUS) ca. 0.2 vulval body width long, anteriorly inclined vagina and conical female tail with a pointed terminus, 48-70 µm long (c = 15-21, cʹ = 2.4-3.7). It is further characterized by having fine stylet 7.5-10.0 µm long with small knobs, small pyriform pharyngeal bulb offset from the intestine, and males with 26.5-31.0 µm long spicules. By having a rudimentary PUS, the new species is morphologically compared with three closely related species, namely Ditylenchus apus, D. deiridus and D. khani. Moreover, morphological differences of the new species with eight similar species of the genus, namely D. arachis, D. convallarie, D. dauniae, D. medicaginis, D. silvaticus, D. tenuidens, D. valveus, and D. virtudesae are presented. The status of the rudimentary or absent PUS of D. deiridus and the new species is also discussed.

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 The geometric-morphometric method has become a vital tool for examining shape and size variations. The current study analyzed the effect of gamma radiation on wing characteristics of sterile and normal Medflies, C. capitata, on landmark-and outline-based geometric morphometrics. In landmark-based, there were significant differences in weight matrices as shape variable, but the centroid size as size variable was statistically non-significant between the two populations. PCA of the sterile and normal populations manifested a clear distinction from the results. MANOVA further ascertained significant wing shape differences between sterile and normal populations. In the outline-based approach, PCA of the contours revealed that 10 out of the 80 principal components effectively explained shape attributes. The statistical tests were utilized to introduce the significant influence considered in the sterile insect technique (SIT) because, in the long run, these changes may distort the results of SIT project.


 

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This study was conducted to compare the morphological characteristics of wild and farmed common carp. In total 70 samples of common carp, including 25 samples of wild from Torkaman port and 45 samples of farmed common carp from Silver carp center in Gilan province were collected. Morphometric results were standardized using Elliott formula, and then principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) were used. Independent t-test was used to evaluate the significance of traits between these two populations. The results of this study revealed that the two populations of wild and farmed common craps were completely separated from each other, using PCA and individuals were assigned to their true population with high accuracy (98%) based on DFA. Among the 33 truss distances that were analyzed, 16 distances showed a significant difference between two populations (p<0.05). The results showed that the studied populations can be distinguished by many morphological differences, especially by dorsal fin length, pectoral fin length, pelvic fin length, anal fin length, dorsal fin width, body width, tail stem width, distance between pectoral and pelvic fin, distance from mouth to dorsal fin and the distance from the mouth to the anal fin. Overall, the results showed that the population of wild carp was significantly different from the population of farmed common carp from the morphological point of view.
Gene ontology and KEGG enrichment revealed potentially related trait potential and genes associated with body shape, scaling patterns, and skin color.«نتایج کامل» بار نشدامتحان مجدد
 

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The morphometric and meristic traits of the dominant demersal flathead fish P.indicus, G.suppositus, and G.scaber which were caught as by-catch of shrimp (bottom trawl) and also in coastal stake net (moshta), During the period from April 2022 to October 2023, it was evaluated comparative in different age groups. A total 19 morphometric and six meristic characteristics were recorded. The average total length and weight of the fish in P.indicus (23.2 ± 6.9) cm, (99.9 ± 78.4) gr and in G.suppositus species (20.6 ± 4.7) cm, (67.4±33.7) gr and also in G.scaber (18.5±2.9) cm, (31.0±17.2) gr. In the studied species, among all the measured morphometric traits (except head hight, body hight and Eye part head higth), the rest of the traits in P.indicus species have the highest and lowest (except head length and Anal fin hight ) has been observed in G.scaber. In the investigation of meristic traits, the highest and lowest number of gill rakers in G.suppositus and G.scaber, respectively. The number of rays Pectoral fin was the highest in G.suppositus and the lowest in P.indicus.  species.the three studied species in different age groups, showed significant differences in various morphometric and meristic parameters (except for the number of rays of the first dorsal fin) (P<0.05). The three studied species clearly distinguished themselves in the present research. The results of this research showed that the analysis of morphometric and meristic traits is a useful tool for the separation of flatheads species studied in this research.

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This study was carried out in order to determine the leave characteristics of some chestnut genotypes in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey and also to determine whether the leaf morphometric characteristics could be used for differentiation of genotypes. In this study, seven chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) genotypes (SA5-1, SE 3-12, SE 21-2, SE 21-9, 552-8, 556-7 and 556-8) and one cultivar (Sariaslama) were used. Some leaf parameters such as lamina length, lamina width, leaf length, leaf area, petiole length, teeth width, teeth length, stomatal density, stomata width, stomata length, lamina width/lamina length, lamina width/leaf length, petiole length/lamina length, stomatal index, distance between the lateral veins and teeth width/teeth length were measured. Most of the chestnut genotypes could be differentiated easily by using leaf morphometric characteristics. The lamina width, lamina length, leaf length, distance between the lateral veins, leaf area, stomata width, stomata length and the ratios of teeth width/teeth length, lamina width/lamina length and lamina width/leaf length were better discriminators for chestnut genotypes.