A century of morphological variation in Cyprinidae fishes.

摘要: Abstract Background Aquatic habitats have been altered over the past century due to a variety of anthropogenic influences. Ecomorphology is an area aquatic ecology that can both directly and indirectly assess effects habitat alterations on organisms. However, few studies explored long term trends in morphological variation. Long changes morphology potentially impact niche ultimately contribute organismal success ecosystem. Therefore, this study we assessed variation with body size, sex, time, hydrology using museum collections five species Cyprinidae (Minnows) from lentic lotic systems 100 years gain insight into patterns morphology. Results Variation tended relate to: size—indicating strong allometric growth robustness larger individuals; sex—indicating level fecundity selection for deeper bodies females compared males; year—indirectly suggesting responses century. In ecosystems, be more fusiform conjunction lower mean annual discharge or higher discharge. change was observed but no historic variables were available discern potential mechanisms. Interestingly, not all responded same magnitude directionality. Conclusions provide link exploring functional relationships between taxa their environment implications understanding ecosystem attributes, community assembly patterns, conservation.