Discriminant-based study of the shell morphometric relationships of Patella caerulea (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) of the western Mediterranean Sea

Authors : Zoheir BOUZAZA, Karim MEZALI

Pages : 513-519

View : 13 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 0000-00-00

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Our  work  is  a  contribution  to  the  study  of  the  morphometric  dissimilarity  of  the  limpet Patella  caerulea  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Linnaeus,  1758);  inhabiting the seashore of the western Mediterranean Sea. For this study, 438 individuals of this species were sampled in 24 stations and separated into 2 groups of individuals: the first group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(G1); originating from the upper infralittoral and the lower mediolittoral areas, and the second group insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(G2); originating from the upper mediolittoral area. The biometry of P. caerulea has been studied by considering the total length insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(L);, the total width insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(W);, and the total height insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(H); of the shell. These parameters revealed a strong positive correlation, and  were  used  for  the  principal  component  analysis  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(PCA);.  Other  combined  parameters  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(L/W, L/H,  and  W/H);  were  added  for  the  discriminant  function  analysis  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DFA);.  Both  multivariate  analyses  showed  that  both  groups  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(G1  and  G2);  were  well  separated.  The  morphometric survey based on the calculation of the geometric mean insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GM); and the gibbosity index insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(GIB); revealed the existence of a  morphological  dissimilarity  between  the  shells  of  groups  G1  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(flattened  and  stocky);  and  G2  insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(high  and  short);.  This  morphological  dissimilarity is discussed and compared with the results of other works on the same species and other related species.
Keywords : Patella caerulea, morphometric, plasticity, morphological dissimilarity, western Mediterranean Sea