Publication Abstract

Morphological variability of the Asiatic cyprinid, topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, in its introduced European range

E. Záhorska, V. Kovác, I. Falka, K. Beyer*, S. Katina and G.H. Copp*

To assess the spatial variability in external morphology of non-native populations of topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva within an ontogenetic context, triple regression analysis (distance-based measurements) was applied to data from eight European populations (two Slovak, four Romanian, one English, one French). The data from Slovakia were also subjected to geometrical analysis (coordinates-based measurements) to obtain a more complex picture of the species’ overall morphology. Great plasticity was observed, being expressed not only in the formation of different definite phenotypes but also in the manner by which the phenotypes are achieved. Thus, both the definite phenotype and the patterns of development in invasive topmouth gudgeon can be highly influenced by environmental conditions. Such great morphological plasticity is likely to be one of the attributes that make this species such a successful invader.

Reference:

E. Záhorska, V. Kovác, I. Falka, K. Beyer*, S. Katina and G.H. Copp* (2009) Morphological variability of the Asiatic cyprinid, topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, in its introduced European range, Journal of Fish Biology, 74; 167-185