The morphological variation of four population of Urmia Kingfish (Alburnus atropatenae) in Urmia Lake basin using geometric morphometric technique

Abstract This study was conducted to survey the morphological variation in four populations of the Urmia kingfish (Alburnus atropatenae) using geometric morphometric technique. A total number of 163 specimens were collected from four rivers of the Urmia Lake basin including the Baneh, Saghezchai, Siminehrood and Zarinehrood by electrofishing. The left side of specimens were photographed using a digital camera. Then fifteen homologous landmark points were selected and digitized on 2D pictures using tpsDig2 software. Landmark data after GPA, analyzed using PCA, CVA with obtained P-value from permutation test and cluster analysis. The patterns of population’s body shape were illustrated in relation to consensus configuration of all specimens. The results showed a significant differences between the body shapes of studied populations. Based on cluster analysis, the studied populations according to their body shape were divided into Baneh clad and Saghezchai, Siminehrood and Zarinehrood clade. The Baneh, Saghezchai, and Siminehrood populations have deeper body and are distinguishable due to smaller head, posterior position of eye and shorter base of dorsal fin, respectively and Zarinehrood population was differentiable due to a more fusiform body shape and less body depth. These morphological differences can display ongoing evolutionary trends of studied populations as result of environmental conditions of their habitats and geographical isolation.