Comparative Otolith Morphology of Two Morphs of Schizopygopsis thermalis Herzenstein 1891 (Pisces, Cyprinidae) in a Headwater Lake on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Fishes

Yunzhi Yan¹  Dong Zhang¹  Jialing Qiao²  Dekui He²  Ren Zhu²  Kang Chen³ 

[1] Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China;Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China;Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuhan 430223, China;

关键词: intraspecific variation;    otolith shape;    otolith-fish size relationship;    plateau lake;    S. thermalis;   

DOI  :  10.3390/fishes7030099

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Teleost otoliths provide a pivotal medium for studying changes in population structure and population dynamics of fish. Understanding the otolith-fish size relationship and intraspecies variation in otolith morphology is essential for the accurate assessment and management of fishery resources. In our study, we aimed to estimate the relationships between otolith morphological measurements and fish length, and detect differences in the otolith morphology of planktivorous and benthivorous morphs of Schizopygopsis thermalis in Lake Amdo Tsonak Co on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Both morphs exhibited strong linear otolith-fish size relationships; otolith morphology was sexually dimorphic in each morph; the morphs differed significantly in otolith shape and size (e.g., posterior side, the region between the posterior and ventral otolith, otolith length, circularity, and surface density). In addition, we found that the differences in otolith morphology between morphs are related to habitat preferences, diet, and growth. Basic data on the biology of S. thermalis are essential for poorly studied Lake Amdo Tsonak Co, and our study emphasizes that intraspecific variation in otolith morphology should be taken into consideration when differentiating stocks, populations, and age classes based on otolith morphology.

【 授权许可】

Unknown