Morphometric and Meristic Characterization of Common Carp, Cyprinus Carpio Strains Sourced from Jos, Bauchi and Ibadan, Nigeria

O O Jacob,J O Cheikyula,S G Solomon

doi:10.46912/napas.68

O O Jacob, J O Cheikyula + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.46912/napas.68

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Abstract

The study investigated the morphometric and meristic characterization of Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) sourced from Jos Bauchi and Ibadan (Nigeria). In comparing the morphometric and meristic characters one hundred and eighty (180) adult Common carp, Cyprinus carpio were used. Twenty four (24) morphometric and six (6) meristic characters were studied. Measurements of the morphometric features were taken to the nearest centimeter by means of a measuring board, measuring rule, pair of dividers for the length, while the weight was taken by means of a weighing scale (salter scale) to the nearest gram. ANOVA, multivariate technique principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis were also applied to the transformed morphometric data to; classify the fish into one or several mutually exclusive groups. The Morphometric study indicated that seven parameters did not differ significantly (p>0.05) between Jos (male and female), and Bauchi (male and Female) strains. The parameters are the body depth, caudal fin length, pectoral fin height, standard weight, pre dorsal distance, eye diameter and body weight. In the meristic count, only the dorsal fin spine did not differ significantly (p >0.05) among the Jos, Bauchi, and Ibadan strains in all sexes. The study revealed that there was a genetic distance between male and female Carp sourced from Ibadan and that of Jos and Bauchi, where as male and female Carp from Jos and Bauchi showed genetic closeness.

Highlights

Morphological characters such as morphometric and meristic have been commonly used to identify fish stocks (Turan, et al, 2004) remains the simplest and most direct way among methods of species identification
From previous studies (Creech, 1992; Mamuris, et al, 1998; Bronte, et al, 1998; Hockaday, et al, 2000), it is understood that the analysis of phenotype variation in Morphometric characters or meristic counts is the method most commonly used to delineate stocks of fish, it is often being used in discrimination and classification studies by statistical techniques ((Agnew, 1988 and Avasar, 1994)
Pollar et al, (2007) reported that phenotypic plasticity of fish allows them to respond adaptively to environmental changes by modification of physiology and behavior which could lead to changes in their morphology, reproduction and survival that mitigate the effect of environmental variations

Summary

Introduction

Morphological characters such as morphometric and meristic have been commonly used to identify fish stocks (Turan, et al, 2004) remains the simplest and most direct way among methods of species identification. The differences in the morphometric and meristic characters of a species between region may result from differences in genotypes, or environmental factors operating on one genotype, or both of these acting together. While both morphormetric and meristic characters respond to changes in environmental factors, their responses are different in some situation and may differ from species to species. Pollar et al, (2007) reported that phenotypic plasticity of fish allows them to respond adaptively to environmental changes by modification of physiology and behavior which could lead to changes in their morphology, reproduction and survival that mitigate the effect of environmental variations

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