Comparative study of Capoeta barroisi populations in Qomrud, Kor and Sheldon rivers using meristic and geometric morphometric data

The Landmark based geometric morphometrics and comparison of meristic characters was used to understand potential differences among populations of Capoeta barroisi in Kor, Qomrud and Sheldon rivers. Some 90 specimens of Capoeta barroisi were caught (36 from Kor River, 11 from Qomrud River and 43 from Sheldan River). After anesthetizing in 1% clove oil and fixing in 10% neutralized formalin, the specimens were transferred to Museum for further studies. Some 15 landmarks were digitized on two-dimensional pictures taken from left side of the specimens and meristic characters were counted under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Canonical Variance Analysis CVA after procrustes superimposition and data standardization. The results of CVA of counting traits and as well as CVA of geometric morphometry of C. barroisi showed that the populations of Kor, Sheldon and Qomrud populations are significantly different and they are separated from each other (P<0.05) and Sheldon and Qomrud formed one cluster and Kor population formed another one.