Record Details

Morphological diversity of the speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) in Oregon's desert springs

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title Morphological diversity of the speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) in Oregon's desert springs
Names Peterson, Erin D. (creator)
Hoekzema, Kendra (creator)
Bronaugh, Whitcomb (creator)
Sidlauskas, Brian (creator)
Sidlauskas, Brian (advisor)
Date Issued 2014-05-23 (iso8601)
Note Honors Bachelor of Science (HBS)
Abstract The Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus) is the most widespread minnow in western North America (Gilbert and Williams, 2002). It has diversified widely across its range—both morphologically and genetically—and as such might rightly be called a species complex. Our ongoing work aims to determine where boundaries between potentially undescribed species lie in Oregon and to identify morphological differences that may help diagnose those taxonomic entities. Meristic and linear morphometric data were collected from preserved specimens originating in four major drainage basins in desert Oregon. Morphometric data points to some potential phenotypic differences between fish reared in springs (slow-moving water) and fish reared in streams (fast-moving water). In particular, spring fish from each basin tend to have shallower bodies and shorter heads than the stream fish from the same basin. The morphologic differences described by this study will give insight in to the evolutionary history of this species complex and how geography has influenced the diversification of R. osculus.
Genre Presentation
Topic Oregon
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/48431

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