ABSTRACT
Scales of the ray finned fishes can be used for multiple purposes. Beside others by their specific structure and elemental composition they are usable for age determination and food-web researches. Additionally, just their presence, absence, shape, location, or numbers could provide a reliable taxonomic information. The fish scales show remarkable size variation also, which characteristics provide reliable information about the environmental needs of freshwater fish. But till now this information was not interpretable and comparable in the absence of a sufficiently large and detailed database. In this study we provide a database which can facilitate the further complex comparative studies. Our dataset consists of 2954 scale photos characterising 193 freshwater fish species. All photos have a uniquely identification code showing exactly which species the scale belongs to. In addition to the photos, our database includes a table showing the exact taxonomic classification of the studied species, the average body profile-index, and the relative scale size, as well as the ecological (flow and feeding habitat preferences) and life strategic characteristics (feeding and breeding guild memberships) of each species. The sampled species have diverse origin, covering five biogeographical regions. An average of five adults from each species were selected for sampling. Three-to-four scales were collected from the anterior part of the body between the dorsal fin and the lateral line. The removed scales were cleaned and prepared to microscope slides, and after this process they were photographed or scanned. Our database can be used for both research and educational purposes. A large number of scale photos assigned of species can be an opportunity to create an automatic species identification system. Moreover, the subjectivity in morphometric measurements can be eliminated by analysing the database with artificial intelligence.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pikes, members of genus Esox, are widespread freshwater predators of the northern hemisphere, and important sport fish also. From the Carpathian basin only one species, the northern pike (E. lucius) is noted. At the same time the pike stocks living in this area show high level of phenotypic variance (e.g. various body pattern) and its growth varies highly both among and within populations. These features usually explained by the environmental diversity of the area. Whereas we think that genetic reasons -e.g. the appearance of other/new pike species in the area- may also be responsible for these observed features. Since as no detailed information have been published from the pike populations of this area, so far; we conducted phylogenetic and morphological assay on 88 pike specimens, collected from 49 Middle Danubian sampling sites. RESULTS: Our phylogenetic surveys showed that the northern pike appear in the study area solely, but all the three of its major lineages (Northern, Circumpolar, Southern) were indicated. Only six specimens represent the Northern lineage, collected from the western part of the study area. The Circumpolar and Southern lineages were common in the Carpathian basin, but the Southern lineage showed higher levels of haplotype diversity than the Circumpolar clade. Which indicates that only the Southern lineage is native in the area, while the other two groups could have appeared in the Middle Danubian system either spontaneously or by human introduction. Moreover, the different clades appeared in the same populations, suggesting the opportunity of inter-lineage hybridisation. From the studied morphologicalal features, the number of scales on the lateral line and the head length showed significant differences among the lineages. At the same time the body pattern of the studied individuals seems to be rather influenced by the ontogenic changes than phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS: The high phenotypic variability of Middle Danubian northern pike populations may be due that all of its three major clades appeared and came in secondary contact in the area. In the within watershed spread of the non-native lineages the human stocking/transfer may play a considerable role.
