RUHUNA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE

Vol. 1, No. 1, September 2006, pp. 8498

Intra-specic Morphological Plasticity in Three Puntius Species in Sri Lanka

2006 Faculty of Science University of Ruhuna.

S. Hettiarachi
Department of Botany, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka

Phenotype of an organism is a result of interaction of genotype and environment. Individuals of a same species living in variety of habitats may subject to dierent environmental conditions. As a result, they may adapt to local conditions in those habitats which include the changes in morphology from the common phenotype. Dierent morphologies in individuals of same genotype is called phenotypic plasticity. This is considered as an important event in evolutionary ecology because these individuals are the rst to subject to natural selection. Present study focused on phenotypic plasticity in three freshwater sh species namely Puntius dorsalis, P. vitatus and P. bimaculatus. Fish were sampled from dierent locations in four dierent altitude ranges of ve major rivers of Sri Lanka. Twenty three length measurements and fteen meristic characters were recorded from each individual and fourteen physicochemical parameters of each location were also measured. Relationship between altitude range and the species morphology was analysed by discriminant analysis and hierachical cluster analysis. Correlation of physicochemical parameters with the altitude range was also studied. Results showed that individuals living in dierent altitude ranges in dierent rivers and also in the same river were morphologically dierent. Results indicated that length characters which determine the shape of the individual mainly contribute to the discrimination of individuals according to their respective altitude range. Ratios of maximum body width to standard length, pre ventral length to post ventral length and fork length to standard length in P. dorsalis, P. vitatus and P. bimaculatus respectively were the main discrimination characters that grouped the individuals according to the respective altitudes. Variations in length characters were found to be adaptations to their habitat. Most physicochemical parameters were signicantly correlated (negatively or positively) according to the altitude ranges where three species were collected. Phenotypic plasticity in the three Puntius species inhabiting dierent altitudes may have resulted as an adaptation to these variable physicochemical parameters. Key words : Energy Technology, Cooking Gas Savings

1.

Introduction

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of a genotype to respond to alternative environmental conditions to produce array of phenotypes (Thompson 1991). In forming a phenotype, the genome and the environment act on the developmental programme; (Scheiner 1993). Genetic variation in a xed phenotype has been hypothesized to be favored in
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stable environments (Smith 1993) whereas phenotypic plasticity can be an important adaptive strategy for coping with environmental variability (Scheiner 1993), predation (Abrams 2003), for dierences in availability of resources such as food (Lindsay 1981, Magnan 1988) and habitat choice of individuals (Smith and Sikulason 1996). Aquatic environments exhibit great spatial and temporal variability in both abiotic and biotic habitat parameters (Lowe-McConnell 1987, Goulding et al. 1988) and intraspecic diversication is well documented in shes (Robinson & Wilson 1994, Smith & Sklason 1996, Taylor 1999, Jonsson & Jonsson 2001). Adaptive phenotypic u plasticity in sh morphology has been demonstrated in crucian carp, Carassius carassius, in response to the presence or absence of a predator (Brnmark & Miner 1992), o and in pumpkinseed sunsh, Lepomis gibbosus (Robinson & Wilson 1996) and stickleback, Gasterosteus spp. (Day et al. 1994), in response to dierences between benthic and pelagic habitats. In Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), variation in morphometric and meristic characters according to dierent temperature conditions in water has been recorded (Beacham 1990). Body shape in shes has been demonstrated to be inuenced by type of food or feeding mode (Day et al.1994, Robinson & Wilson 1996). Barbus neumayeri living in hypoxic habitats (swamps) has shown larger gill size compared to those living in streams which have better oxygen supply (Chapman et al. 1999, Chapman and Liem 1995). Body shape of the hatchery reared and wild Atlantic salmon also tend to be heavily inuenced by rearing conditions (von Cramon et al. 2005). Divergence of structure, behaviour or habitat could support more living beings to live in the same area. Individual phenotypic dierences are important in understanding the evolutionary ecology of a population or a species because variation among individuals is the raw material on which natural selections rst acts on. Phenotypic variation in a species could lead to genotypic variation and this could even lead to origin of a species in long term. Puntius is a Genus of freshwater sh belonging to Family Cyprinidae. There are 16 Puntius species in Sri Lanka. They inhabit in a variety of aquatic environments; i.e., rivers, streams, reservoirs, or tanks; waters of stagnant, slow owing or with strong currents; deep or shallow; relatively higher to lower altitudes and clear or turbid waters (Schut et al.1984). Three commonly found indigenous Puntius species, namely P. bimaculatus, P. dorsalis and P. vitatus were considered in the present study. According to Schut 1984, P. bimaculatus adults were mainly found in hill country in small and large streams while juveniles were found in marshes. In contrast, P. vitatus found in marshes and paddy lands with turbid water in lowlands. P. dorsalis has the widest range of distribution from the rocky hill streams to main rivers below ood level and also found in tanks and reservoirs. These three species show three types of distribution (hill country, lowlands and wide range), where environmental factors (soils, water bodies and altitude ranges) are dierent. Body shape (morphology) of these sh could be adapted to suit these diering environmental conditions.

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Table 1

De Silva, Liyanage and Hettiarachchi: Intra-specic Morphology ... Ruhuna Journal of Science 1(1), pp. 8498, (2006)

Altitude ranges where sampling done in ve Rivers. Kelani Nilwala Gin

XXX XXAltitude Mahaweli Kalu XX River X X

Not used in the analysis as the samples were not in suitable condition to take measurements.

Objective of the present study was to determine whether variability of macrohabitats, mainly altitude and the type of water body, has any eect on morphological plasticity of these three Puntius spp. in ve major rivers namely Mahaweli, Kelani, Kalu, Nilwala and Gin.

2.

Materials and Methods

Five major rivers Mahaweli, Kalu, Kelani, Gin and Nilwala were selected for the study. Sampling was carried out in ve dierent altitude ranges of each river. Fish samples were collected using hand nets, scoop nets, cast nets and gape nets from streams, streamlets, rivulets and reservoirs belonging to ve river basins. Figure 1 shows the sampling sites and Table 1 shows the altitude range of which the species were caught in each location. Total number of sh collected was 31, 53 and 43 for P. vitatus, P. bimaculatus and P. dorsalis, respectively. In each altitude range more than one location was sampled. Other sh species caught were released back to the water and three Puntius spp. used for the study were preserved in 70% alcohol and brought to the laboratory. Species of the sh were identied according to their external morphology and 23 length measurements (measurables) and 15 meristic characters (countables) were recorded from each sh. List 1 shows the characters recorded. Fourteen physicochemical parameters of water; temperature, pH, alkalinity, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended organic matter, suspended inorganic matter, organic suspended solids, chlorophyl content, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, phosphate levels and nitrate levels were measured at the sampled sites using standard methods. List 1 Morphometric and meristic characters used

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Figure 1 Length measurements recorded Note. (abbreviations are dened in List 1)

(a) Morphometric characters TL - Total length MBW - Maximum Body Width POL - Post orbital length SL - Standard length PDL - Pre dorsal length AFL - Anal n length POAL - Post anal length POVL - Post ventral length POPL - Post pectoral length CSPR - Caudal spread HCPD - Least depth of caudal peduncle IND - Inter nostril distance

FL - Fork length HL - Head length DFL - Dorsal n length ED - Eye diameter PODL - Post dorsal length PAL - Pre anal length PVL - Pre ventral length PPL - Pre pectoral length CFL - Caudal n length LCPD - Length of caudal peduncle IOW - Inter orbital width LLS - No. of lateral line scales

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Figure 2 Rivers and sampling sites Note. Locations in ve rivers are shown in ve dierent fonts

(b) Meristic characters TR - No. of transverse scales CPED - Scales around caudal peduncle DFR - Dorsal n rays DFS - Dorsal n spines VFR - Ventral n rays VFS - Ventral n spines PFR - Pectoral n rays PFS - Pectoral n spines AFR - Anal n rays AFS - Anal n spines PRDS - Pre dorsal n scales CFR - Caudal n rays PSDS - Post dorsal n scales DFSC - Dorsal n scales As the sh were in dierent sizes, length measurements were converted to ratios to standerdise for the size of the sh. Analysis was carried out for each species separately. Size adjusted length ratios and meristic characters were subjected to discriminant function analysis using step wise insertion of variables to nd out the canonical functions,

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Table 2

No. of functions, percentage variance and the characters that contribute for the discrimination of the individuals to their respective altitude range P. dorsalis P. vitatus P. bimaculatus Function % Character Function % Character Function % Character No. variance No. variance No. variance 1 74.2 MBW.TL 1 100 PVL.POVL 1 83.8 FL.SL 2 22.5 POAL.SL 2 16.2 POL.SL 3 3.4 POVL.SL

characters that contribute for the highest percentage variance and principal components that contribute to discriminate the species according to the altitude range that they were found. Mean plots were obtained for the major characters that contribute for the highest percentage variance for the altitudinal ranges. Principal components obtained were used to cluster the sh according to the altitudes by hierachical cluster analysis. SPSS 10 statistical package was used for the analysis. Physicochemical parameters were log transformed. Relationship between physicochemical parameters and altitude ranges were analysed by correlation analysis to determine the most variable parameters in the four altitude ranges in ve rivers.

3.

Results

Results of the canonical discriminant analysis show that from the 39 morphological descriptors (24 length ratios and 15 meristic), length ratios mainly contribute to the discrimination of individuals (Table 2). In P. vitatus ratio of pre ventral length and post ventral length contribute totally for discrimination (100%). Fork length mainly contributes to discriminate P. bimaculatus (83.8%). As the percentage variance for post anal length and post ventral length is low, maximum body depth is the major discriminating factor for P. dorsalis. Mean plots obtained by one way ANOVA for these characters show that body width (MBW.SL) is signicantly higher in the P. dorsalis individuals in lowest altitude of 0-150 m (Figure 3a). In P. vitatus mean PVL.POVL is highest in 0-150 m altitude range shows that ventral n is positioned more posteriorly (Figure 3b). High mean values obtained for the fork length in P. bimaculatus collected from high altitudes (600-1200 m) show that they have longer caudal ns. For the individuals living in lower altitudes high mean value was obtained for the post orbital length indicate that they have longer heads (Figure 3c-i and ii). Six, ve and seven principal components were obtained for P. dorsalis, P. vitatus and P. bimaculatus, respectively. Both meristic and length measurements were contributed to group the individuals of P. bimaculatus, P. dorsalis and P. vitatus according to the altitudinal ranges. Except for three cases for each species, in P. vitatus and P. bimaculatus all the individuals belonging to the same altitude in dierent rivers were grouped together. Grouping of individuals in P. dorsalis did not strictly follow that pattern.

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(a)P. dorsalis

(b)P.vitatus

(c)P. bimaculatus Figure 3

(d)P. bimaculatus

Mean plots showing the variation of the main discriminant characters according to the altitude range for 3a. P. dorsalis, 3b. P.vitatus and 3c. P. bimaculatus

Table 3

Key morphometric characters extracted for three Puntius species Principal components P. dorsalis P. vitatus P. bimaculatus MBW.SL PVI.POVL FL.SL POAL.SL POVL.SL POL.SL POVL.SL PPL.POPL PODL. SL TR CFL.CSPR LLS CFR DFR AFR PRDS PFR CFR

Principal components that give highest percentage variance for the canonical functions

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and physicochemical parameters P. bimaculatus - Temperature - Dissolved oxygen - Biological oxygen demand + Chemical oxygen demand + Salinity + Phosphate

Table 4

Signicant correlations obtained for altitude ranges of the locations where three species collected P. dorsalis P. vitatus - Temperature - Conductivity - pH - Total suspended solids - Conductivity - Organic suspended solids - Total suspended solids - Inorganic suspended solids - Organic suspended solids - Biological oxygen demand - Inorganic suspended solids - Salinity - Biological oxygen demand - Nitrate - Chemical oxygen demand + Dissolved oxygen - Salinity - Alkalinity - Nitrate - Phosphate - negative correlation, + positive correlation

Figures 3, 4, and 5 show the clustering of individuals of three species according to the altitude ranges. P. vitatus was found only from samples collected at lower altitudes (0-150 m and 150-300 m) and they form two distinct clusters at 20% level in the dendrogram (1A and 1B) representing two altitudes (Figure 3). Individuals of P. bimaculatus of Nilwala River collected from 300-600 m altitude range separated out rst at 80% level in the dendrogram (1A1 and 1A2 of Figure 4). From the rest, individuals of altitude 150-300 m clustered separately from individuals of altitude range 600-1200 m (2A1 and 2A2).Compared with the other two species P. dorsalis does not show distinct separation in morphology according the altitude ranges. Individuals belonging to 150-300 m range in Nilwala River (1A) show dierent morphology from the rest of P. dorsalis individuals and individuals belonging to other three altitude ranges do not show much dierence in their morphology (Figure 5). Correlation analysis of altitude range and physicochemical parameters of the localities where three species were collected shows that most characters are negatively correlated with the altitude. Results of the same analysis for P. bimaculatus show some positively correlated parameters (Table 4). Chlorophyll content in the water shows no signicant correlation with the altitude.

4.

Discussion

According to principal component analysis positioning of ns in the body is important in discriminating the individuals of P. vitatus in relation to the two altitudinal ranges in which they were found. Position of the ventral n, which contributes to 100% variance for canonical functions and the pectoral n, is more anteriorly placed in individuals collected from the lowest altitude range (0-150 m). P. vitatus is mainly found in marshes and paddy elds. In paddy elds, large numbers of this species gather under spillways and other places with owing water (Schut et al.1984). More anteriorly placed lateral

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0 5 10 15 20 25 Altitude River +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ Legend 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2* 1 1 2 2 1* 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 G KE KL KL KE G G G G G G G G G G G G N N N G KL KL KL KL KL KL KL KE KL G

Altitude 1 2 3 4 0-150 150-300 300-600 600-1200 G N KL KE M

River Gin Nilwala Kalu Kelani Mahaweli

1B1 1

1B1

Figure 4 Clustering of P. vitatus according to the altitudes Note. * misclassied cases

ns are an adaptation for living in streams (Brinsmead and Fox, 2003). Individuals collected from altitude range of 150-300 m have larger caudal spread and this is also an adaptation to their habitats such as spillways with arduous environmental conditions. P. bimaculatus is found in the rocky hill streams (Schut 1984). This was the only Puntius species found in highest altitude studied (Table 1). Morphological characters that contributed most to the canonical function analysis in P. bimaculatus are related

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0 5 10 15 20 25 Altitude River +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3* 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3* 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 G G G G G G G G M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M M KE KE M M M M M M N N N N N N N N N N

1B1

1B1 1

1B1 1B1

1B1

1B1

Figure 5 Clustering of P. bimaculatus according to the altitudes Note. * misclassied cases

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0

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5 10 15 20 25 Altitude River +---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+ 3 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2* 4 4 3 4 3 3 1 1 3 1 2 2 2 2 3* 3* 2 M M M M KL Kl M M M KE M KL M KL KL KL M KE M M M G KE M KL M M M KL M KL KL KL M KL M N N N N M M KL 1B1 1

1B1

1A 1A

Figure 6 Clustering of P. dorsalis according to the altitudes. Note. * misclassied cases

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to caudal n length and head length. Comparison of mean plots of these characters for lower altitudes and higher altitudes showed that individuals in high altitudes have long bodies with longer caudal ns and shorter head lengths. Habitats of P. bimaculatus individuals found in higher altitudes are in steep hills with fast owing waters. As such water in those habitats gets well aerated. Longer caudal ns give them more fusiform bodies so that they can withstand fast owing water. Longer post orbital lengths in individuals in lower altitudes is an adaptation to provide more space to increase the size of the gill (Lindsay 1981) possibly through increasing the number of gill laments. Garra ceylonensis which is highly adapted to fast owing water, was the only other Cyprinid species found in the highest altitudes, in addition to P. bimacualtus. P. dorsalis was found in most of the locations sampled and had the widest distribution. Individuals living in the lowest altitudes have deeper bodies and their lateral ns are placed more anteriorly than those in higher altitudes. Webb and Wehis (1986) have shown that these characters are the optimal design for maneuvering type of locomotion. P. dorsalis is commonly found in reservoirs and tanks too. Deep body is also an adaptation to live in littoral habitats (Robinson et al. 1996). Principal components obtained for each Puntius species were able to classify the individuals according to the altitude ranges they were collected. Individuals sampled from the same altitude range of dierent rivers clustered together indicating that altitude has considerable eect on the morphology of the species. Except for a few individuals, phenotypically similar individuals of dierent rivers belonging to a same altitude could be grouped together. It would be interesting to study this relationship with dierent sh genera to generalise this outcome. Individuals that develop and mature in common environmental conditions may share a similar phenotype. When the movement between riverine populations is limited they develop population specic phenotypes (Jerry and Cairns 1998). Present demonstration of signicant similarities found in most physicochemical parameters of the same altitude range in dierent rivers may have created common environmental inuences. This may have caused the individuals to be shaped into similar phenotypes in the same species in those environments. Barlow (1961) has shown that latitudinal changes in temperature have aected the expression of morphological characters. Similarly the dierences found in some physicochemical parameters among altitude ranges may have resulted in dierences in phenotype of the same species shown in present study. More experimental work are required to further describe the role that ecological conditions play in maintaining morphological diversity in these groups. P. dorsalis being a macrophagous herbivore and the other two species being algae and diatom feeders their distribution may depend on the availability of their food source. However chlorophyll content of water shows no signicant correlation among altitudes. Therefore any correlation between chlorophyll content and morphology of Puntius cannot be demonstrated.

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Many organisms can modulate their morphology in response to environmental cues. Such plasticity is thought to be an important adaptive strategy for populations experiencing variable environmental conditions (Scheiner 1993) and it is likely that phenotypic plasticity plays an important role in diversication (West-Eberhard 1989). Morphology in teleost sh has been shown to be particularly labile in response to multifarious habitat eects (Kinsey et al. 1994, Corti et al. 1996) Present study also shows that the morphology of a species in the same river but dierent localities could dier. This may lead to form in dierent populations as the movement of individuals among the most localities is dicult. These populations subject to local selection pressures leading ultimately to increased tness termed local adaptations (Carvalho 1993).This could even result genetic divergence of populations. Future studies on genetic component of these phenotypes would result a better picture of phenotypic plasticity of Puntius species.

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Acknowledgments Financial assistance provided by National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka under the research grant RG/BT/2003/02 is highly appreciated.