Genetic and Morphological Diversity of Marine Fish Populations
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Diversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 42
Special Issue Editors
Interests: marine fishes; fish ecology; fisheries science; molecular ecology; marine resource management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Morphology can be one of the most critical factors affecting the performance of an individual and, in turn, its survival and fitness. Studies of functional morphology, i.e., functional analysis of the structural features (i.e., anatomy) of animals, can provide tremendous insight into the behaviors influencing individual survivorship and how the performance of a species might be altered when environmental factors change. Because constraints on function related to species morphology have the potential to result in dramatic performance failure of a species, especially after anthropogenic alterations to the environment, it is critical to consider functional morphology when making conservation and management decisions.
Morphometric and meristic characters are the two principal types of morphologic characters frequently used to describe populations of exploited marine fishes. In addition, morphometric parameters also play an important role in documenting disparities between the same species in different geographic regions. Morphometrics and meristics are measurable and countable traits, respectively, that are under simultaneous control by genetic and/or environmental factors. Resolving morphometric and meristic spatial variation can be a useful technique for identifying population structure and connectivity.
Life history characteristics and the morphology of fishes, including developmental stage, growth rate, seasonal maturity status, and age at first maturity, are controlled by both genetic and environmental factors and can influence phenotypic plasticity in both morphometric and meristic characters.
We welcome high-quality research articles, reviews, and methodological advances exploring marine fish populations' genetic and morphological diversity. Studies integrating molecular, ecological, and functional morphological approaches are particularly encouraged, as are contributions that address conservation implications and adaptive responses to environmental change.
Dr. Maria Hristova Yankova
Dr. Andrew Brooks
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- marine fishes
- genetic diversity
- phenotypic plasticity
- population connectivity
- functional morphology
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