Investigation of morphological differences of Capoeta capoeta populations in the upstream and downstream of Zarinerood River in Urmia Lake Basin

The present study investigated morphological difference populations of Capoetacapoeta in the upstream and downstream of Zarinerood River in Urmia Lake Basin. In addition, the role of important condition factors influencing morphological features was studied. In this study, a total of 85 sample of Siah Maahi (C. capoeta) were caught from the upstream (40 pieces) and downstream (45 pieces) Zarinerood River using Electrofishing. Samples anaesthetized using clove powder, fixed in 10% formalin and transferred to the laboratory. 21 morphometric and 7 meristic characteristics were studied. Standardized data to determine the differences between the populations and also to separate the populations in each of the traits analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and detection function analysis (DFA). The study showed that Siah Mahi populations in the upstream and downstream of Zarinerood River had not significant differences in meristic traits (p>0.05). Siah Mahi populations had significant differences in morphometric traits, but these differences will not separate populations. Differences in ecological conditions such as flow rate, temperature, oxygen, vegetation and nutritional status were diagnosed as important factors in morphometric differences between populations-studied.