Journal Article
Path analysis and curve fitting of morphometric traits and body weight of juvenile Aspiorhynchus laticeps
Huale Lu; Huimin Hao; Zhulan Nie; Jie Wei; Qing Xiao; Hongmei Fu; Yuren Gong; Min Wang
Journal of Fish Biology · Vol. 107, Issue 5 · pp. 1589-1598 · 2025
Abstract
In this experiment, correlation analysis, path analysis, regression analysis and curve‐fitting methods were employed to investigate the relationships between the body weight (Y) and morphological variables (X1–X36) of juvenile Aspiorhynchus laticeps (common name: big‐head schizothoracin). These methods were used to identify the main morphological trait indices affecting body weight and further determine the optimal fitting models between four main morphological traits and body weight. The study found that 94% of the morphological traits of juvenile A. laticeps had a highly significant positive correlation with body weight ( p p > 0.05), while other morphological traits had a significant positive correlation ( p R 2 = 0.718), the optimal fitting model of mouth cleft height (X11) and body weight was a power function equation ln(Y) = −9.847 × (1/X11) + 3.065 ( R 2 = 0.560), the optimal fitting model of CI (X30) and body weight was a logarithmic function equation ln(Y) = −36.207 × (1/X30) + 4.308 ( R 2 = 0.881), and the optimal fitting model of the distance from the end of the dorsal fin base to the starting point of the ventral caudal fin (DF, X35) and body weight was a logarithmic function equation ln(Y) = −61.089 × (1/X35) + 3.811 ( R 2 = 0.728). The research results indicate that in the breeding selection of juvenile A. laticeps , CI (X30) should be taken as the main selective trait, supplemented by body width (X3), mouth cleft height (X11) and DF (X35) as references.