Analysis of morphological differences among different populations of golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

To explore the external morphological differences of golden pompano in different geographical populations, eight quantitative traits of 210 samples from seven golden pompano populations were measured. Multivariate statistical methods, such as principal component analysis, discriminant analysis, cluster analysis, and One-way ANOVA, were used to compare morphological differences among the populations. Principal component analysis extracted the top five principal components with a cumulative contribution rate of 85.79%, of which the first three principal components could explain seven morphological features. The principal component scatter plot showed that the NH, CH, and LL populations had similar morphology. Using the stepwise discriminant method to establish the classification and discrimination functions of the seven populations, the discrimination accuracy of the DL population was 93.3% for P1 and 87.5% for P2, which was the highest, and the comprehensive discrimination rate was 71.4%. The clustering relationship diagram showed that the populations were divided into three branches, and the CH and NH populations were closest. In contrast, the DL and HF populations were farthest from the other populations. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences (P<0.05) among all traits of the populations, and the morphological differences between the HX and DL populations were the largest. The results of this study showed specific differences in the external morphology of golden pompano among different populations.