Assessment of morphological variation between stocks of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Pomatomidae), in the Aegean Sea, Black Sea, and Sea of Marmara

The population structure of the bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus, 1766), in Turkish waters is scarcely described literature. To identify any distinct units and reaffirm findings a previous study, four areas were selected: Aegean Sea, western Black eastern Sea Marmara. In this truss network morphometrics, meristics, otolith shape analyses successfully applied for different identification bluefish. Multivariate analysis variance (MANOVA) revealed no differences meristic, characters between males females. Hence, both sexes combined discriminant function (DFA) Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Using univariate ANOVA based on stepwise method highly significant difference among locations each truss-morphometrics characters. Furthermore, six out seven meristic also showed areas. Based PCA, 25 27 truss-morphometric had loading value above 0.70, which was considered study. results DFA show clear patterns character variations, forming clusters that well separated from other, indicating existence morphologically differentiated populations proportion correctly classified bluefish samples to their original groups 100%, demonstrating separation these stocks other. Whereas up 5% total Marmara incorrectly classified, assigning Sea. These supported by indicated However, overall correct classification relatively lower than traits method. suggest requirement strategic assessment management stock separately use them sustainably future.