Allometric patterns and morphological aspects were investigated in 492 specimens of Potamon fluviatile from nine sites located in Central and Southern Italy, with the aim to widen knowledge on the population status. The different female/male abdominal size confirmed the sexual dimorphism in this species. By contrast, the remaining morphometric parameters showed no significant differences between sexes. Male abdomen width showed a negative allometry, except for the specimens from Brook Mercure characterized by an isometric growth, while in all sites female abdomen width showed a strong positive allometry. In both sexes, carapace width together with length and width of the bigger chela showed a positive allometry, whereas the remaining parameters were isometrics. By considering the 492 specimens of P. fluviatile it emerged that significant differences were noticed between right- and left-handedness, and gender. No morphological markers discriminating amongst populations were observed.
MORPHOMETRIC HOMOGENEITY AND ALLOMETRIC GROWTH OF POTAMON FLUVIATILE IN ITALY
GORETTI, Enzo;DOERR, Ambrosius J. Martin;
2013
Abstract
Allometric patterns and morphological aspects were investigated in 492 specimens of Potamon fluviatile from nine sites located in Central and Southern Italy, with the aim to widen knowledge on the population status. The different female/male abdominal size confirmed the sexual dimorphism in this species. By contrast, the remaining morphometric parameters showed no significant differences between sexes. Male abdomen width showed a negative allometry, except for the specimens from Brook Mercure characterized by an isometric growth, while in all sites female abdomen width showed a strong positive allometry. In both sexes, carapace width together with length and width of the bigger chela showed a positive allometry, whereas the remaining parameters were isometrics. By considering the 492 specimens of P. fluviatile it emerged that significant differences were noticed between right- and left-handedness, and gender. No morphological markers discriminating amongst populations were observed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
