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Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Geographic, intraspecific and sexual variation in beak morphology of purpleback flying squid (Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis) throughout its distribution range

Bi Lin Liu A C D E F , Xin Jun Chen A C F G , Xue Hui Wang B G , Fei Yan Du B , Zhou Fang A and Luo Liang Xu A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Hucheng Ring Road 999, Lingang New City, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.

B Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Fishery Ecology and Environment, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, PR China.

C The Key Laboratory of Sustainable Exploitation of Oceanic Fisheries Resources, Ministry of Education, 999 Hucheng Ring Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.

D Key Laboratory of Oceanic Fisheries Exploration, Ministry of Agriculture, 999 Hucheng Ring Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.

E Scientific Observing and Experimental Station of Oceanic Fishery Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, 999 Hucheng Ring Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.

F Present address: National Engineering Research Center for Oceanic Fisheries, 999 Hucheng Ring Road, Lingang New City, Shanghai, 201306, PR China.

G Corresponding authors. Email: xjchen@shou.edu.cn; wxhscs@163.com

Marine and Freshwater Research 70(3) 417-425 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18078
Submitted: 3 March 2018  Accepted: 10 August 2018   Published: 23 October 2018

Abstract

In this study we investigated 745 specimens of purpleback flying squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis across a large distribution range to investigate geographic, intraspecific and sexual variations in beak morphology. Beak morphometric variables showed significant spatial and intraspecific differences (P < 0.05), with samples from the north-western Indian Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea having the largest and smallest beaks respectively. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the morphological characteristics of squid beaks would be useful for the identification of population structures and sex determination. Environmental conditions may be the major reason for variations in beak morphology between geographic populations throughout large distribution areas. In contrast, genetic differences may contribute to most of the intraspecific variation in beak morphology in the South China Sea. To address this clearly, further research needs to be done on morphology combined with genetic evaluation to compare methods of geographic and intraspecific population identification.

Additional keywords: multivariate statistics, population.


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