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<p>The variability of 14 morphometric and seven meristic characters of <italic>Boops boops</italic> (L.) collected at four stations along the Tunisian coast was examined in 518 samples ranging from 126 to 206 mm in total length and 37 to 78 g in total weight. Statistical analysis of both sets of characters showed significant variation among the four populations in 13 (92.9%) morphometric and four (57.1%) meristic characters. CVA and cluster analysis of the morphometric characters revealed four groups corresponding to four populations, with 95.36% correct classifications of individuals to their populations of origin. However, CVA and cluster analysis of the meristic characters showed a reticulate relationship among the four populations, as there was clear differentiation between those in Monastir and Zarzis and an overlap between those in Bizerte and Kelibia, with only 51.75% of individuals correctly classified to their respective populations. This morphological differentiation among the populations from the four stations was attributed to the differences in the physico-chemical water properties at these stations. However, further studies are needed on the impact of environmental factors and diet at these stations on the morphological population structure of <italic>B. boops</italic> to better understand the contribution of environmental conditions to morphological variation.</p>
</abstract>

The variability of 14 morphometric and seven meristic characters of Boops boops (L.) collected at four stations along the Tunisian coast was examined in 518 samples ranging from 126 to 206 mm in total length and 37 to 78 g in total weight. Statistical analysis of both sets of characters showed significant variation among the four populations in 13 (92.9%) morphometric and four (57.1%) meristic characters. CVA and cluster analysis of the morphometric characters revealed four groups corresponding to four populations, with 95.36% correct classifications of individuals to their populations of origin. However, CVA and cluster analysis of the meristic characters showed a reticulate relationship among the four populations, as there was clear differentiation between those in Monastir and Zarzis and an overlap between those in Bizerte and Kelibia, with only 51.75% of individuals correctly classified to their respective populations. This morphological differentiation among the populations from the four stations was attributed to the differences in the physico-chemical water properties at these stations. However, further studies are needed on the impact of environmental factors and diet at these stations on the morphological population structure of B. boops to better understand the contribution of environmental conditions to morphological variation.

Morphometric and meristic character variability and relationships among populations of <italic>Boops boops</italic> (L.) from four marine stations along the Tunisian coast

Laboratory of Ecology, Biology and Physiology of Aquatic Organisms (LR/18/ES/41)

Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphometric and meristic character variability and relationships among populations of  (L.) from four marine stations along the Tunisian coast

The variability of 14 morphometric and seven meristic characters of Boops boops (L.) collected at four stations along the Tunisian coast was examined in 518...

Morphometric and meristic character variability and relationships among populations of Boops boops (L.) from four marine stations along the Tunisian coast

Published Online: May 26, 2021

Page range: 13 - 28

Received: Aug 29, 2020

Accepted: Mar 13, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2021-0002

Keywords
populations, relationship, morphometric characters, meristic characters, Tunisian marine stations

© 2021 Mouna Ben Labidi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Morphometric and meristic character variability and relationships among populations of Boops boops (L.) from four marine stations along the Tunisian coast

Published Online: May 26, 2021

Page range: 13 - 28

Received: Aug 29, 2020

Accepted: Mar 13, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2021-0002

Keywordspopulations, relationship, morphometric characters, meristic characters, Tunisian marine stations

© 2021 Mouna Ben Labidi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
populations, relationship, morphometric characters, meristic characters, Tunisian marine stations