Geographic Variation in European Ninespine Sticklebacks, Pungitius pungitius

Investigation of geographic variation in European ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) revealed non-linear clinal and habitat-specific variations which are probably adaptive. Numbers of vertebrae, dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores and dorsal spines vary latitudinally; whereas variations in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Copeia 1979-08, Vol.1979 (3), p.405-412
Main Author: Gross, Harm P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Fresh water
Freshwater fishes
Geographical variation
Lakes
Marine fishes
Predators
Refuge habitats
Spine
Streams
Vertebrae
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Summary:Investigation of geographic variation in European ninespine sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) revealed non-linear clinal and habitat-specific variations which are probably adaptive. Numbers of vertebrae, dorsal- and anal-fin pterygiophores and dorsal spines vary latitudinally; whereas variations in gillraker number, body depth and pelvic-spine length are attributed to inter-site differences in diet, resistance to motion and predation pressure. Such population differences are of recent origin. The bearing of these data on the tendency to attribute character divergence in Pungitius to isolation in various glacial refugia is briefly indicated.
ISSN:0045-8511
1938-5110
DOI:10.2307/1443215