title: A multivariate morphometric investigation to delineate stock structure of gangetic whiting, Sillaginopsis panijus (Teleostei: Sillaginidae).
abstract: This study was conducted to delineate the stock structure of Sillaginopsis paniijus based on morphometric characters of the species. A total of 194 specimens were collected from the Meghna, Tentulia and Baleswar rivers located in the southern coastal zone of Bangladesh. Data were subjected to univariate ANOVA, multivariate ANOVA, discriminate function analysis (DFA), and principal component analysis. Mean variations of ten morphometric characters; HD, HBD, LBD, PsOL, ED, SnL, SPrDL, HAF, LSDB and LPB showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among 27 morphometric traits that were selected for the study. In DFA, the overall assignments of individuals into their correctly classified original groups were 71.1 and 70.6 % for male and female, respectively. A scatter plot of the first two discriminant functions was used to visually depict the discrimination among the populations. The results showed different stocks of S. panijus in the rivers of Baleswar, Tentulia and Meghna in southwest coast of Bangladesh.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Muhammad Abu Bakar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siddik
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Abu
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.affiliation: Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Reaz
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chaklader
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Patuakhali, 8602 Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Ashfaqun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nahar
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, 1 Turner Avenue, Bentley, WA 6102 Australia.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fotedar
keywords: Morphometric characters; Sillaginopsis panijus; Sustainable management; Univariate ANOVA