The impact of Manjil and Tarik dams (Sefidroud River, southern Caspian Sea basin) on morphological traits of Siah Mahi Capoeta gracilis (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Capoeta gracilis Dam geometric morphometrics Shape Variation

Authors

  • Adeleh Heidari Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Someh Sara, Guilan, Iran
  • Hamed Mousavi-Sabet Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Someh Sara, Guilan, Iran
  • Majidreza Khoshkholgh Department of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Someh Sara, Guilan, Iran
  • Hamid Reza Esmaeili Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Iran
  • Soheil Eagderi Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Alborz, Iran
August 24, 2013

Downloads

It has been postulated that the building of the Manjil and Tarik dams on Sefidroud River has led to the body shape variation of Capoeta gracilis in up- and downstream populations due to the isolation. In this study, Geometric morphometric approach was used to explore body shape variations of Capoeta gracilis populations in up- and downstream Manjil and Tarik dams in Sefidroud River from south of the Caspian Sea basin. The shape of 90 individuals from three sampling sites was extracted by recording the 2-D coordinates of 13 landmark points. PCA, CVA, DFA and CA analysis were used to examine shape differences among the populations. The significant differences were found among the shape of the populations and these differences were observed in the snout, the caudal peduncle and head. The present study indicated the body shape differences in the populations of Capoeta gracilis in the Sefidroud River across the Manjil and Tarik dams, probably due to the dam construction showing anthropogenic transformation of rivers influences body shape in an aquatic organism.