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Generalized Form of Barbs of the Barbus (=Labeobarbus) intermedius Complex in Lake Tana: Vectors of Morphological Variability at Different Stages of Postnatal Ontogenesis

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Abstract

Fishes of the Barbus (=Labeobarbus) intermedius complex (Actinopterigii, Cyprinidae), known in Russian-language literature as Large African Barbs, are widely distributed in Africa water bodies. A special feature of the morphological diversity of this group of fish is the sympatric coexistence of morpho-ecological forms in local populations. The most famous example of such coexistence takes place in Lake Tana located in the north of Ethiopia, where, according to different authors, up to 15 morpho-ecological forms (morphotypes) live. The diagnostic features of the barbs of Lake Tana morphotypes are clearly manifested upon reaching a standard length (SL) of approximately 15 cm. With a shorter length, representatives of most morphotypes are indistinguishable from each other. This suggests that, in ontogenesis, the main vectors of morphological variability of the Tana Lake barbs may be different before and after individuals reach a length of 15 cm. The aim of this study was to test this assumption. The results obtained confirm that, in this population, the standard length (SL), equal to approximately 15 cm, delimits two stages of postnatal ontogenesis in the studied group of fish. In individuals with SL < 15 cm, the main vector of variability is a consequence of changes in morphological proportions as the individual grows. In individuals with SL > 15 cm, the main vector of variability is most likely associated with the trophic resource partitioning. The original approach used in the study is considered promising in analyzing the peculiarities of variability at different stages of ontogenesis not only in the studied group but also in other systematic groups.

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Notes

  1. GF is an abbreviation from English “generalized form.”

  2. The Latin “intermedius,” as well as the definition “generalized,” indicates the generality of the appearance of GF individuals: intermediate, or averaged between other Tana morphotypes. As one of the diagnostic features of the intermedius morphotype, Nagelkerke et al. (1994, р. 3) indicate: “No extreme characters,” i.e., the absence of extreme characters, by “extreme” meaning diagnostic characters of specialized lake morphotypes.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am sincerely grateful to the expedition members who took part in the collection of material: A.S. Golubtsov and A.A. Darkov (Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences), as well as F.N. Shkil (Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences), A.S. Komarova, A.V. Kozhare, and E.E. Slynko (Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences), who took the time to review the original version of the manuscript and make valuable comments. Special thanks to M.V. Mina (Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences) and Yu.Yu. Dgebuadze (Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences), whose consistent, principled criticism allowed the author to avoid a number of not entirely substantiated assertions. The author is also deeply grateful to F.N. Shkil and E.V. Esin (Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology and Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences), who have provided photographs of Lake Tana barb morphotypes for publication.

Funding

The study was carried out within the framework of the state assignments of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences (nos. 0109-2018- 0076, AAAA-A18-118042490059-5 and FFER-2021-0006) and the Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences (no. 121051100104-6). The material was collected at the expense of the Long-Term International Project of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition.”

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  1. Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, Moscow, Russia

    A. N. Mironovsky

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Mironovsky, A.N. Generalized Form of Barbs of the Barbus (=Labeobarbus) intermedius Complex in Lake Tana: Vectors of Morphological Variability at Different Stages of Postnatal Ontogenesis. Russ J Dev Biol 54, 126–133 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1062360423020042

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