Stock structure analysis of Splendid ponyfish Eubleekeria splendens (Cuvier, 1829) along Indian coast using truss network system

Abstract

<em>Eubleekeria</em> <em>splendens</em> (Cuvier, 1829) also called Splendid ponyfish, is commercially important and has wide distribution along the Indian coast. The species shows dominance along the south-west and south-east coast but there is no detailed information on the stock structure available from Indian waters. Therefore the present study focused on understanding the stock structure based on putative spawning stock. Fish samples were collected from five locations: Three from the west and two from the east coast. Twenty-four morphometric variables were measured using a box-truss network method. Principal component analysis delineated the population into east and west coast stocks. With respect to locations, each sampling unit formed separate clusters, thus representing isolated stocks. The samples from Mangaluru produced a single clustering with Kozhikode samples indicating that the morphological profiles of these two populations are homogeneous. Multiple comparisons on the factor scores indicated two independent stocks on the east coast, whereas the fishery on the west coast is replenished by a single stock on south-west coast but a separate stock on the north-west coast. Thus, information on the spatial structure of phenotypic stock makes it mandatory to understand the biology and dynamics of these isolated stocks of <em>E. splendens </em>separately and thereby a traditional stock assessment should be performed to estimate current resource status stock-wise in terms of biological reference points.