Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-1-2008
Capstone Advisor
Dr. R. Craig Albertson
Honors Reader
Dr. Larry Wolf
Capstone Major
Biology
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
no
Honors Categories
Sciences and Engineering
Subject Categories
Biology
Abstract
Cichlid fish exhibit a high frequency of variation across species. This study focused on a particular asymmetry in the jaws of fish in the genus Tropheops. An asymmetry towards the left side was observed and then tested. Each side of the jaw was measured in a number of individuals from different Tropheops species. These measurements were then analyzed to see if the left side was indeed longer than the right. Statistical analysis was utilized to test the significance of sided differences. It was found that Tropheops species exhibit a left sided bias, some species having a significant bias, and others showing a leftward trend. Two other species, Labeotropheus fuelleborni and Cyanotilapia afra, were tested for comparison to see if this leftward trend is specific to Tropheops species. These species did not have a significant bias, but did show a trend toward a longer left side. It is predicted that the pronounced asymmetry in Tropheop jaw morphology is reflective of methods of food collection and diet.
Recommended Citation
Williams, Bianca, "Asymmetric Jaw Morphology in an Herbivorous Cichlid from Lake Malawi" (2008). Honors Capstone Projects - All. 534.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/534
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
