Latitudinal variation in the geometric morphology of the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides
Elijah S. Hall A D , Benjamin E. Martin B , Kristen Brubaker C and Christopher J. Grant A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Biology Department, Juniata College, 1700 Moore Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652, USA.
B Environmental Science Department, Juniata College, 1700 Moore Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652, USA.
C Environmental Studies Department, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: elijahall96@gmail.com
Marine and Freshwater Research 69(9) 1480-1485 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17369
Submitted: 28 May 2017 Accepted: 15 February 2018 Published: 28 May 2018
Abstract
Geometric morphology can be influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors, including predator–prey interactions and habitat structure. We measured the external morphology of Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass, LMB) from two states in north-eastern United States, to assess the potential divergence of body shape. LMB varied in overall body shape (canonical variate analysis, P < 0.001) between states, with Maine populations exhibiting shorter jaws (ANOVA, P < 0.001) and thicker caudal peduncle depths (ANOVA, P < 0.001) than the LMB in Pennsylvania. We propose that these observed differences in morphological traits suggest that jaw length may be influenced by prey availability and resource utilisation, whereas peduncle depth is better explained by surrounding habitat structure. These findings showed that body shape is variable and is influenced by a complex array of environmental factors, even over small latitudinal differences.
Additional keywords: ecology, fish, freshwater, lakes.
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