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Distinction between Mulloidichthys flavolineatus juveniles from Reunion Island and Mauritius Island (south‐west Indian Ocean) based on otolith morphometrics
Author(s) -
Pothin K.,
GonzalezSalas C.,
Chabanet P.,
LecomteFiniger R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2006.01047.x
Subject(s) - morphometrics , otolith , biology , canonical analysis , fishery , intraspecific competition , zoology , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , statistics , mathematics
Sagittal otoliths of the yellowstripe goatfish Mulloidichthys flavolineatus were analysed in order to compare Reunion Island fish stocks with those of Mauritius (south‐west Indian Ocean). Conventional otolith morphometric variables (area, perimeter, length and width), shape indices (form factor, roundness, circularity, rectangularity, ellipticity and eccentricity) and Fourier shape analysis were compared between three sites; two in Reunion Island and one in Mauritius. Regional and site‐specific differences were found for all the conventional otolith morphometric features. Regarding the shape indices, the differences between sites were best described by form factor, roundness, circularity and rectangularity. A classification by canonical discriminant analysis indicated significant differences between the three sampling sites. The combined use of morphometric variables (size and shape) and external outlines (shape analysis through Fourier series) showed the importance of otolith shape for intraspecific discrimination.