Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

TRUSS NETWORK ANALYSIS OF THREE STOCKS OF LABEO FIMBRIATUS FROM PENINSULAR RIVERS

Muttappa Khavi, Vijaykumar, S. and Basavaraju, Y.

Abstract

Morphometric analysis was applied to investigate the discreteness and interrelationships of three stocks of Labeo fimbriatus representing the Cauvery, the Tungabhadra and the Vedavathi rivers of Indian peninsula using truss network analysis. The Truss Network System has been increasingly used for stock identification as it overcomes several biases in conventional morphometric study. A total of 90 specimens comprising three stocks of Labeo fimbriatus were used for the study. Truss net work measurements were made on 21 variables using 10 anatomical land marks. Mathematical comparisons of truss measures were made using multivariate techniques such as viz., Principal Component Analysis (PCA), factor analysis and cluster analysis. Results indicate a great degree of morphometric homogeneity among the three stocks of Labeo fimbriatus viz., Cauvery, Tungabhadra and Vedavathi. The scatter plots of principal components indicate no clear grouping of the three stocks. The present study showed no significant differences among the three stocks of Labeo fimbriatus.