Interpopulation differences in shell forms of the pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata radiata (Bivalvia: Pterioida), in the northern Persian Gulf inferred from principal component analysis and elliptic Fourier analysis

Metapopulation characterization and discrimination of the pearl oyster Pinctada imbricata radiata in the northern part of the Persian Gulf is unknown. This study was conducted to examine differences in shell morphology of P. imbricata radiata from the Hendourabi and Lavan islands using principal component analysis (PCA) and elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA). Both EFA and PCA differentiated the shell form of the 2 populations significantly. PCA indicated that the pearl oysters from Hendourabi tended to be longer, while those from Lavan were wider and greater in thickness (width). Based on EFA, the specimens of Hendourabi Island were more fusiform than those from Lavan. In addition, the Lavan specimens were rounder than those from Hendourabi. The Lavan specimens had more diversity in form than those from Hendourabi. In conclusion, EFA and PCA approaches are clear-cut tools to identify and separate populations based on morphological characteristics, and EFA is a faster method compared with PCA in the discrimination of form in P. imbricata radiata.