Biochemical systematics and genetic variation in the British members of the fish family Cyprinidae

Data collected from the 16 species of the fish family Cyprinidae (Pisces: Teleosti) found in Britain were examined morphometrically and electrophoretically to examine the taxonomic relationships within the group and aspects of the occurrence and identification of interspecies hybrids. The analysis of morphological characters by Principal Components Analysis was not able to separate the morphological characters into clear character suites. A rooted dendrogram using Gower (1971) mixed data coefficient and UPGMA was found not to correlate strongly with the presently accepted classification or with the subsequently produced phenogram based upon the enzymatic results. The phenetic treatment of electrophoretic results gave a consensus topology equivalent to Nei's (1972) .D. and UPGMA with standard errors. Several taxonomic changes were suggested, the reduction from six to two sub-families and moving two species into different genera, Blicca bjoerkna to become Abramis bjoerkna and Alburnus alburnus to become Leuciscus leuciscus. The use of electrophoretic characters in preference to morphological ones was strongly validated. Discriminant Function Analysis could not discriminate between populations with and those without hybrids. An unidentified specimen from the River Trent, Nottingham, was also described. It was found enzymatically not to correspond to any of the 16 species examined, but could be placed in the classification in the sub-family Leuciscinae and Abramin lineage.