Meeting Abstract

P1.143  Jan. 4  Testing molecular diversity with morphology: a morphometric and meristic analysis of the rosyface shiner species complex (Notropis rubellus: Cyprinidae). BARRON, S. M.*; BERENDZEN, P. B.; OLSON, W. M.; University of Northern Iowa; University of Northern Iowa; Univeristy of Northern Iowa smb2@uni.edu

The rosyface shiner, Notropis rubellus, is a temperate, freshwater fish distributed in the Central Highlands of eastern North American. Earlier researchers suggested that the rosyface shiner was a single widespread species showing geographic variation. Recent studies using morphological and largely molecular data identified greater diversity within the species complex. A current molecular hypothesis suggests seven species within the N. rubellus complex: N. suttkusi; N. micropteryx; N. percobromus; N. sp. Ouachita River; N. sp. Ohio River; N. sp. New River/Atlantic Slope and N. rubellus. We used morphological measurements, specifically geometric morphometric and meristic analyses, to test the current molecular hypothesis. Meristic data (scale and pore counts) were not able to distinguish species. More complex morphological analyses based on digitized landmark data, including Goodall’s F-test and principal component analyses, found statistically significant differences among most groups, supporting the molecular hypothesis. This preliminary analysis provides direction for further exploration of the data and expansion of the data set.