Ontogenetic variability in external morphology of round goby Neogobius melanostomus from Middle Danube, Slovakia

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Authors

LAVRINCIKOVA M. KOVAC V. KATINA Stanislav

Year of publication 2005
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source JOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2005.00677.x/abstract
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0426.2005.00677.x
Field Applied statistics, operation research
Keywords Ontogenetic variability; external morphology; Neogobius melanostomus; shape analysis
Description In the previous decade, four species of non-native goby have invaded the middle section of the River Danube. To understand the problems associated with these invasions better, we examined the external morphology of 184 round goby Neogobius melanostomus specimens using both triple regression (distance-based measurements) and geometrical (coordinates-based measurements) analysis within an ontogenetical and epigenetical aspect. Using geometrical analysis of distance-based characters, we found that the external body shape in four size groups of round goby remained essentially unchanged. Such direct development represents a strongly precocial (i.e. specialized) life-history, whereas earlier maturation in this non-native population suggests a shift back towards more altricial (i.e. less specialized, more generalized) life history. This combination of altricial–precocial trajectories seems to be typical for invasive round gobies and may be one of key factors for their successful colonization of new environments.
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