Morphometric Divergence of Garra mullya (Skyes, 1839) Populations from the Preferred River System of Southern Western Ghats Region, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The present study aims to describe the phenotypic divergence of Garra mullya from the preferred river sites of Southern Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 18 morphometric characters were analyzed within populations from different localities. The species-wise and population-wise descriptive statistics viz., minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation, the coefficient of variation (CV) of all morphometric traits, the multivariate coefficient of variation (CVp) and the principle component analysis were carried out. The bivariate scatter plot of component 1 and 2 was found to be sufficient to outline the morphological heterogeneity existing among Garra mullya populations. Even though, the morphologically characters are showed similarity between each other, but the population of kalikesam region shows completely distinct from other regions in clusters analysis. So, the study concluded that the morphometric divergence within populations, it may decline the fish species due to the habitat alterations by the influence of anthropogenic activities.

Keywords: Garra mullya, morphometric, principle component analysis, anthropogenic activities

Cite this Article Sabaridasan A, Edwinthangam P, Soranam R. Morphometric divergence of Garra mullya (Skyes, 1839) populations from the preferred river system of Southern Western Ghats region, Tamil Nadu, India. Research & Reviews: A Journal of Life Sciences. 2017; 7(3): 7–13p.