Diversity in the internal functional feeding elements of sympatric morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus).

ABSTRACT: The diversity of functional feeding anatomy is particularly impressive in fishes and correlates with various interspecific ecological specializations. Intraspecific polymorphism can manifest in divergent feeding morphology and ecology, often along a benthic-pelagic axis. Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) is a freshwater salmonid known for morphological variation and sympatric polymorphism and in Lake Þingvallavatn, Iceland, four morphs of charr coexist that differ in preferred prey, behaviour, habitat use, and external feeding morphology. We studied variation in six upper and lower jaw bones in adults of these four morphs using geometric morphometrics and univariate statistics. We tested for allometric differences in bone size and shape among morphs, morph effects on bone size and shape, a

SUBMITTER: Jonsdottir GO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11108142 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature