TY - JOUR
T1 - Interspecific comparison of growth and shape within Diapterus (Gerreidae: Perciformes) using geometric morphometrics
AU - Vergara-Solana, F. J.
AU - García-Rodríguez, F. J.
AU - De La Cruz-Agüero, J.
N1 - Funding Information:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Miriam L. Zelditch, Efraín De Luna, and José J. Tavera Vargas for recommendations, Víctor M. Cota Gómez for laboratory assistance, and José Trinidad Nieto for samples of D. aureolus. Funding was provided the Secretaría de Investigatión y Pos grado, Instituto Politécnico Nacional (SIP 20071113, SIP 20080573 and SIP 20090333) and the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología of México (Project no. 90438). F.J.G.R. and J.D.A. are fellows of EDI IPN and COFAA IPN, and SNI CONACYT. F.J.V.S. is a recipient of student fellowships from PIFI IPN and CONACYT.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - Morphometric analyses can generate useful information to solve taxonomic problems by direct comparison of each species representative's shape or by analyzing its growth patterns. In this study, growth patterns and shape variation of the four fish species belonging to the genus Diapterus (Gerreidae) were analyzed using geometric morphometrics. We examined 287 specimens, D. auratus (n = 65), D. aureolus (n = 76), D. brevirostris (n = 87) and D. rhombeus (n = 59). For the exploration of growth trajectories of each species, the standard length was used as a size measurement, and the Procrustes distance as a morphological variation measurement. We also compared averages of the morphological change direction within each species through a pairwise comparison between vector angles. These analyses were also used to select those fishes whose increase in size did not lead to a significant change in Procrustes distance. Once this subsample was selected, the body shapes of the four species were compared using Canonical variate Analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Diapterus aureolus showed the most different morphological trajectory and the most divergent vector within the genus. An average of 93% of correct classification was estimated from Mahalanobis distances. The Canonical Variate Analysis generated three statistically significant canonical variates (p < 0.001) and indicated that D. auratus, D. brevirostris, and D. rhombeus presented a more related shape between them than D. aureolus, as indicated in previous studies. In this context, we considered the shape and growth of D. aureolus with regard to its congeners can be an important element for suggesting a taxonomic rearrangement. However, our interpretation should be supported by phylogenetic analysis. Based in our study, we suggest that trajectories analyses can be directly used in morphometric comparisons to detect those specimens affected by allometry.
AB - Morphometric analyses can generate useful information to solve taxonomic problems by direct comparison of each species representative's shape or by analyzing its growth patterns. In this study, growth patterns and shape variation of the four fish species belonging to the genus Diapterus (Gerreidae) were analyzed using geometric morphometrics. We examined 287 specimens, D. auratus (n = 65), D. aureolus (n = 76), D. brevirostris (n = 87) and D. rhombeus (n = 59). For the exploration of growth trajectories of each species, the standard length was used as a size measurement, and the Procrustes distance as a morphological variation measurement. We also compared averages of the morphological change direction within each species through a pairwise comparison between vector angles. These analyses were also used to select those fishes whose increase in size did not lead to a significant change in Procrustes distance. Once this subsample was selected, the body shapes of the four species were compared using Canonical variate Analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance. Diapterus aureolus showed the most different morphological trajectory and the most divergent vector within the genus. An average of 93% of correct classification was estimated from Mahalanobis distances. The Canonical Variate Analysis generated three statistically significant canonical variates (p < 0.001) and indicated that D. auratus, D. brevirostris, and D. rhombeus presented a more related shape between them than D. aureolus, as indicated in previous studies. In this context, we considered the shape and growth of D. aureolus with regard to its congeners can be an important element for suggesting a taxonomic rearrangement. However, our interpretation should be supported by phylogenetic analysis. Based in our study, we suggest that trajectories analyses can be directly used in morphometric comparisons to detect those specimens affected by allometry.
KW - Allometry
KW - geometric morphometrics
KW - growth
KW - heterochrony
KW - heterotopy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84881046198&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1134/S0032945213040115
DO - 10.1134/S0032945213040115
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0032-9452
VL - 53
SP - 445
EP - 454
JO - Journal of Ichthyology
JF - Journal of Ichthyology
IS - 6
ER -