Morphology and some biological characteristics of endemic minute gobies, Mistichthys luzonensis (Smith) and Gobiopterus lacustris (Herre) in Southern Luzon, Philippines
2012
Consigna, M.J.S.
Morphology, sexual dimorphism, fecundity and feeding habits of two endemic minute gobies, Mistichthys luzonensis and Gobiopterus lacustris collected from Lakes Bato, Manapao and Laguna de Bay were studied to add to the scanty information on the biology of these species. Analysis of morphomeristic characters, reproductive biology and gut analysis were conducted to determine biological characters and these parameters were analyzed using t-test and multivariate analysis. Principal Component Analysis revealed that M. luzonensis collected from Lake Bato (tabios) and Lake Manapao (Sinarapan) belong to the same species (Eigen value = 44.22% and 19.56%), although a slight variation in body depth was detected. This can be due to environmentally-induced factors, geographical distances and anthropogenic activities. Multivariate analysis revealed that samples from Lake Bato males have significantly longer and broader bodies than female individuals. Samples from Lake Manapao males have generally lon ger fins than female individuals. Male G. lacustris have longer head length and ventral fin length than females. These variations could be attributed to differences in reproductive behavior between male and female gobiids. Meristic data, on the other hand, were relatively homogenous among populations. Moreover, fecundity of all test gobies were significantly higher in April (p0.05) than in July. Gut analysis revealed that M. luzonensis prefer diatoms and rotifers, while G. lacustris prefer Calanoida. Morphological characterization, sexual dimorphism and feeding habits of two gobiid species established in this study would be helpful in the successful breeding and conservation of these species.
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