<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Otolith phenotypic variability was analyzed in the Caucasian bleak (<italic>Alburnus escherichii</italic>) from the Selevir Reservoir in Turkey. Utricular (lapillus) and lagenar (asteriscus) otoliths were removed, while distinguishing between left and right otoliths. All otoliths were photographed on the distal (for asterisci) and dorsal surface (for lapilli) using a Leica DF295 digital camera. Otolith morphometrics were measured to the nearest 0.001 mm using Leica Imaging Software. Linear and nonlinear (power) models were applied to determine the relationships between otolith measurements and total length of fish individuals. Two length classes (Class I: 6.7–10.9 cm <italic>Lt</italic>; Class II: 11.0–15.0 cm <italic>Lt</italic>) were established to analyze the shape of otoliths. The Form Factor, Circularity, Roundness, Rectangularity, Aspect Ratio and Ellipticity were used to analyze the shape of otoliths. A standardized model was used to remove the effect of size on otolith measurements. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect differences in otolith shape variation. The results of discriminant function analysis showed that 79.9% of <italic>A. escherichii</italic> specimens were correctly classified by length classes. In this study, intraspecific variation of asteriscus and lapillus otoliths in <italic>A. escherichii</italic> is reported for the first time. The results of this study provide the first comprehensive data on otolith shape analysis and the relationship between otolith morphometrics and total length in the Caucasian bleak.
</abstract>

Otolith phenotypic variability was analyzed in the Caucasian bleak (Alburnus escherichii) from the Selevir Reservoir in Turkey. Utricular (lapillus) and lagenar (asteriscus) otoliths were removed, while distinguishing between left and right otoliths. All otoliths were photographed on the distal (for asterisci) and dorsal surface (for lapilli) using a Leica DF295 digital camera. Otolith morphometrics were measured to the nearest 0.001 mm using Leica Imaging Software. Linear and nonlinear (power) models were applied to determine the relationships between otolith measurements and total length of fish individuals. Two length classes (Class I: 6.7–10.9 cm Lt; Class II: 11.0–15.0 cm Lt) were established to analyze the shape of otoliths. The Form Factor, Circularity, Roundness, Rectangularity, Aspect Ratio and Ellipticity were used to analyze the shape of otoliths. A standardized model was used to remove the effect of size on otolith measurements. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect differences in otolith shape variation. The results of discriminant function analysis showed that 79.9% of A. escherichii specimens were correctly classified by length classes. In this study, intraspecific variation of asteriscus and lapillus otoliths in A. escherichii is reported for the first time. The results of this study provide the first comprehensive data on otolith shape analysis and the relationship between otolith morphometrics and total length in the Caucasian bleak.

Otolith phenotypic analysis for the endemic Anatolian fish species, Caucasian bleak <italic>Alburnus escherichii</italic> Steindachner, 1897 (Teleostei, Leuciscidae), from Selevir Reservoir, Akarçay Basin, Turkey

Faculty of Art and Sciences, Biology Department

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Otolith phenotypic analysis for the endemic Anatolian fish species, Caucasian bleak  Steindachner, 1897 (Teleostei, Leuciscidae), from Selevir Reservoir, Akarçay Basin, Turkey

Otolith phenotypic variability was analyzed in the Caucasian bleak (Alburnus escherichii) from the Selevir Reservoir in Turkey. Utricular (lapillus) and...

Otolith phenotypic analysis for the endemic Anatolian fish species, Caucasian bleak Alburnus escherichii Steindachner, 1897 (Teleostei, Leuciscidae), from Selevir Reservoir, Akarçay Basin, Turkey

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 03, 2021

Page range: 430 - 440

Received: Mar 03, 2021

Accepted: Apr 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oandhs-2021-0037

Keywords
otolith biometrics, shape indices, mature and immature samples,

© 2021 Melek Ozpicak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Otolith phenotypic analysis for the endemic Anatolian fish species, Caucasian bleak Alburnus escherichii Steindachner, 1897 (Teleostei, Leuciscidae), from Selevir Reservoir, Akarçay Basin, Turkey

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 03, 2021

Page range: 430 - 440

Received: Mar 03, 2021

Accepted: Apr 15, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/oandhs-2021-0037

Keywordsotolith biometrics, shape indices, mature and immature samples,

© 2021 Melek Ozpicak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
otolith biometrics, shape indices, mature and immature samples,