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

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


Title: Diversity in the internal functional feeding elements of sympatric morphs of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)
Author: Jónsdóttir, Guðbjörg Ósk
Jónsdóttir, Guðbjörg Ósk
von Elm, Laura-Marie
von Elm, Laura-Marie
Ingimarsson, Finnur   orcid.org/0000-0002-0815-7622
Tersigni, Samuel
Tersigni, Samuel
Snorrason, Sigurður Sveinn
Snorrason, Sigurður Sveinn
Pálsson, Arnar
... 3 more authors Show all authors
Date: 2024-05-21
Language: English
Scope: e0300359
University/Institute: University of Iceland
Háskóli Íslands
University of Iceland
School: School of Science and Engineering
Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ)
School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI)
Department: Líf- og umhverfisvísindastofnun (HÍ)
Insitute of Life and Environmental Science
Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences (UI)
Series: PLOS ONE;19(5)
ISSN: 1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300359
Subject: Líffræðileg fjölbreytni; Bleikja
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/5168

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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, and divergence along the benthic-pelagic axis. We also examined the degree of integration between bone pairs. We found differences in bone size between pelagic and benthic morphs for two bones (dentary and premaxilla). There was clear bone shape divergence along a benthic–pelagic axis in four bones (dentary, articular-angular, premaxilla and maxilla), as well as allometric shape differences between morphs in the dentary. Notably for the dentary, morph explained more shape variation than bone size. Comparatively, benthic morphs possess a compact and taller dentary, with shorter dentary palate, consistent with visible (but less prominent) differences in external morphology. As these morphs emerged in the last 10,000 years, these results indicate rapid functional evolution of specific feeding structures in arctic charr. This sets the stage for studies of the genetics and development of rapid and parallel craniofacial evolution.

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