Morphological variations and discriminant analysis of different geographical populations of Scapharca broughtonii Schrenck

The multivariate morphometrics based on 9 morphological characters were used to investigate the morphological variations among the four different geographical populations of S.brougghtonii from Kroea and China(Shandong and Jiangsu).ANOVA and Tukey test indicated that these four populations showed signifi-cant morphological variations(P0.05).The result of cluster analysis showed that S.broughtonii from Huang-dao,Shandong and Qiansandao,Jiangsu are similar and clustered first,then clustered with S.broughtonii from Korea,and clustered with S.broughtonii from Penglai Shandong last.Three principal components were con-structed in the principal component(PC) analysis by factor loading;the first principal component was mostly affected by umbo width and radial rib width;the second principal component was mostly affected by outer ligament length and dorsal brim length;and the third principal component was mostly affected by shell height and shell moisture weight.The contributory ratios of three principal components were 33.366%,20.407% and 15.422%,respectively;and the cumulative contributory ratio was 69.195%.The discriminant functions of four populations were established and the dicriminant accuracy was 100% for the S.broughonii from Penglai Shandong,96.4%,84.3%,and 95.6% for S.broughtonii from Korea,Huangdao(Shandong),and Qiansandao(Jiangsu).The result of this research can be used in discrimination of different geographical populations and sustainable utilization and protection of the breed of S.broughtonii.