Morphometric and meristic traits variation of Alburnus chalcoides populations in rivers of the Southern Caspian Sea basin

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.

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.

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. 

This study showed high diversity of morphometric compared to meristic traits and better performance of these traits in population's distinction.