Spatio-temporal and intraspecific variations in the morphology and morphometry in otoliths of Odontesthes bonariensis (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae).

TOMBARI, A.; VELEZ, D; VOLPEDO A V

NATURA NEOTROPICALIS

ASOCIACIÓN DE CIENCIAS NATURALES DEL LITORAL

Lugar: Santa Fe; Año: 2011 vol. 42 p. 45 - 64

0329-2177

The morphological and morphometric features of fish otoliths are species?specific. Moreover, some species are known to show intraspecificvariations. These could be due to different environmental conditions,but this possibility has scarcely been explored. For the first time, spatio?temporal and intraspecific variations in the shape and size of theotolith of the South American silverside Odontesthes bonairensis (Valenciennes,1835) are reported. For commercial purposes, this specieswas introduced from the Chascomús Shallow Lake (Argentina) intoother environments with different characteristics. The otoliths used inthis study belong to silversides sampled in 2006 from the ChascomúsShallow Lake (Argentina), and in 2006 from the Titicaca Lake (Bolivia)and the Kasumigaura Lake (Japan). Otoliths collected in 1980 fromthe Chascomús Shallow Lake were also included in the analysis. Thespecies identity of some specimens was subsequently confirmed bymolecular techniques. Results of multivariate analyses indicated thatthere were significant differences in otolith morphology and morphometryamong the silverside populations studied, probably relatedto the environmental conditions where silversides developed.