engleski

COMPARATION OF MORPHOMETRY BETWEEN CROATIAN AND AUSTRIAN ASTACIDAE POPULATIONS

The morphometric characteristics of an animal reflect both genetic variation and adaptation to the environment and can be used for the distinction of populations. Therefore, twenty-one morphometric parameters were measured on five populations of the stone crayfish, Austropotamobius torrentium and on four populations of the noble crayfish, Astacus astacus originating from the Croatian and Austrian freshwaters. Statistical analysis was applied to determinate morphometrical characteristics which distinguish two species, sexes and different populations of the same species. Due to the known sexual dimorphism crayfish males and females were analysed separately. Also, in order to avoid comparisons between adults and juveniles A. torrentium individuals less then 50 mm and A. astacus individuals less then 80 mm were excluded from the statistical analysis. In total, 142 A. astacus and 225 A. torrentium individuals were analysed. As expected, significant differences in claw and tail size were found between sexes of both species. Tested by one-way ANOVA, both males and females of two species differed statistically significantly in almost all measured parameters. Preliminary results of statistical analysis indicate that Austrian and Croatian A. torrentium populations differed statistically significant in claw, head, rostral, areolar and tail parameters. On the other hand, A. astacus populations differed statistically significant in some claw and abdomen parameters as well as in head, thoracal and areolar parameters. Our preliminary results demonstrate morphological distinctiveness of Austrian and Croatian A. torrentium and A. astacus populations and provide important information to be considered in species protection programmes.

morphometry; Astacus astacus; Austropotamobius torrentium; Austria; Croatia

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