Morphological diversity of the
speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)
in Oregon’s desert springs
Erin Peterson
Kendra Hoekzema
Whitcomb Bronaugh
Brian Sidlauskas
Speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus
Endemic to Western
North America
http://nas.er.usgs.gov
http://n
Speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus
Endemic to Western
North America
Habitat generalist
Speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus
Endemic to Western
North America
Habitat generalist
Owyhee
River
Rome, OR
Miller
Creek
Klamath
Co., OR
Speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus
Endemic to Western
North America
Habitat generalist
Stinking Lake
Spring
Malheur NWR, OR
Speckled dace
Rhinichthys osculus
Endemic to Western
North America
Habitat generalist
 Diversification across
its range
Photos courtesy of Dr. Doug Markle
Objective
Understand the factors that influence
morphologic diversity in R. osculus.
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Questions of Interest
• Are fish in streams and springs
morphologically distinct across the
study range?
• Within each basin, are fish in streams
and springs morphologically distinct?
– And if so, are differences consistent?
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Study Area
Klamath Basin: Duncan Spring
Owyhee Drainage: Rinehart Spring
Oregon Lakes Basin: Foskett Spring
Malheur Lakes Basin: Malheur Springs
Barnyard
Hibbard
Stinking Lake
Methods
• Meristics and linear morphometrics
– 10 meristic scale counts
– 38 linear morphometric measurements
• Analysis
– Discriminant functions
– Principle Components Analysis (PCA)
– Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA)
Duncan Spring, Klamath Co..
Meristics
Figure courtesy of J. Armbruster, 2012
Linear Morphometrics
*Note: size-adjusted
Photo of Foskett dace, courtesy of K. Hoekzema
Results: Stream vs. Spring
Discriminant Function
scale counts
n = 203
n = 137
54
48
p<0.001
Frequency
42
36
30
24
18
12
6
0
-4.0
-3.2
-2.4
-1.6
-0.8
0.0
Discriminant
0.8
1.6
2.4
3.2
Results: Stream vs. Spring
Discriminant Function
morphometrics
n = 299
n = 153
90
80
p<0.001
Frequency
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-18
-15
-12
-9
-6
-3
Discriminant
0
3
6
Overall,
speckled dace in
streams and springs
are not completely
separable based on
morphology.
Questions of Interest
• Are fish in streams and springs
morphologically distinct across the
study range?
• Within each basin, are fish in streams
and springs morphologically distinct?
– And if so, are differences consistent?
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Results: Streams vs. Springs by basin
16
12
PCA
scale counts
Streams (n = 203)
Duncan (n = 15)
Rinehart (n = 25)
Foskett (n = 30)
Malheur Springs (n = 67)
Component 2
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
-20
-30
-24
-18
-12
-6
0
Component 1
6
12
18
24
Results: Streams vs. Springs by basin
PCA
morphometrics
0.15
Streams (n = 299)
Duncan (n = 51)
Rinehart (n = 41)
Foskett (n = 30)
Malheur Springs (n = 77)
0.10
Component 2
0.05
0.00
-0.05
-0.10
-0.15
-0.20
-0.25
-0.40
-0.32
-0.24
-0.16
-0.08
0.00
Component 1
0.08
0.16
0.24
Results: Klamath streams
vs. Duncan Spring
9
8
7
Frequency
6
5
No meristic separation (p=0.899)
4
3
n = 43
n = 15
2
1
0
-2.0
-1.6
-1.2
-0.8
-0.4
0.0
Discriminant
0.4
0.8
1.2
1.6
18
16
Frequency
14
12
10
8
6
n = 51
n = 21
4
2
0
-9
-6
-3
0
3
6
Discriminant
9
12
15
18
Morphologic differences (p<0.001)
• Premaxilla to dorsal origin
• Head length
• Body depth
Results: Owyhee streams
vs. Rinehart Spring
9
8
7
Frequency
6
5
Meristic differences (p<0.001)
• Circumpeduncular scales
n = 35 • Scales above lateral line
n = 25 * May not be biologically meaningful
4
3
2
1
0
-4.8
-3.2
-1.6
0.0
1.6
Discriminant
3.2
4.8
6.4
8.0
18
16
No morphologic separation(p=0.159)
Frequency
14
12
10
8
6
n = 41
n = 25
4
2
0
-9
-6
-3
0
3
6
Discriminant
9
12
15
18
Results: Oregon Lakes
streams vs. Foskett Spring
27
24
Frequency
21
18
15
12
9
n = 74
n = 30
6
3
0
-20
-16
-12
-8
-4
0
Discriminant
4
8
12
Meristic differences (p<0.001)
• Scales above lateral line
• Postdorsal scales
16
36
32
Morphologic differences (p<0.001)
• Premaxilla to dorsal origin
• Preopercle length
• Body depth
Frequency
28
24
20
16
12
n = 153
n = 30
8
4
0
-20
-16
-12
-8
-4
0
Discriminant
4
8
12
16
Results: Malheur streams
vs. Malheur Springs
18
16
Frequency
14
12
10
8
6
n = 51
n = 67
4
2
0
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
Discriminant
2
4
6
Meristic differences (p<0.001)
• Scales below lateral line
• Caudal peduncle scales
8
27
24
Morphologic differences (p<0.001)
• Premaxilla to dorsal origin
• Head depth
Frequency
21
18
15
12
9
n = 54
n = 77
6
3
0
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
Discriminant
2
4
6
8
16
12
Component 2
8
PCA of Malheur meristics
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
-20
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
Component 1
10
15
20
25
0.15
0.10
Component 2
0.05
0.00
PCA of Malheur morphometrics
-0.05
-0.10
-0.15
-0.20
-0.25
-0.36
-0.30
-0.24
-0.18
-0.12
-0.06
Component 1
0.00
0.06
0.12
Body depth and/or head length
separate streams and springs within
each basin
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Questions of Interest
• Are fish in streams and springs
morphologically distinct across the
study range?
• Within each basin, are fish in streams
and springs morphologically distinct?
– And if so, are differences consistent?
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Results: Streams vs. Springs by basin
16
12
PCA
scale counts
Streams (n = 203)
Duncan (n = 15)
Rinehart (n = 25)
Foskett (n = 30)
Malheur Springs (n = 67)
Component 2
8
4
0
-4
-8
-12
-16
-20
-30
-24
-18
-12
-6
0
Component 1
6
12
18
24
Results: Streams vs. Springs by basin
PCA
morphometrics
0.15
Streams (n = 299)
Duncan (n = 51)
Rinehart (n = 41)
Foskett (n = 30)
Malheur Springs (n = 77)
0.10
Component 2
0.05
0.00
-0.05
-0.10
-0.15
-0.20
-0.25
-0.40
-0.32
-0.24
-0.16
-0.08
0.00
Component 1
0.08
0.16
0.24
What about springs in the same basin?
Outlet to Willow Reservoir, Klamath Co.
Results: Malheur Springs
PCA
scale counts
6
3
Component 2
0
-3
-6
-9
Barnyard Spring (n = 27)
Hibbard Spring (n = 10)
Stinking Lake Spring (n = 30)
-12
-15
-18
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
Component 1
10
15
20
25
Results: Malheur Springs
PCA
morphometrics
0.16
Barnyard Spring (n = 27)
Hibbard Spring (n = 10)
Stinking Lake Spring (n = 40)
0.12
Component 2
0.08
0.04
0.00
-0.04
-0.08
-0.12
-0.16
-0.20
-0.36
-0.30
-0.24
-0.18
-0.12
-0.06
Component 1
0.00
0.06
0.12
Conclusion
• Lots of morphologic diversity in R. osculus
• Streams and springs may have morphologic
differences within a given basin
• Springs in the Malheur have morphotypes
that are different from streams and different
from one another
Stinking Lake Spring, Malheur NWR
Next Steps: Genetic Analysis
• Collected samples from Klamath, Owyhee,
and Malheur
• Sequencing in progress
• Build on previous genetic tree
Crooked Creek, Owyhee Co.
Acknowledgments
Funding
Oregon State University
National Science Foundation
Bureau of Land Management
Field Work & Other Support
Jonathan Armbruster, Auburn University
Andrea Barry, OSU
Linda Beck, USFWS, Malheur NWR
Mike Burns, OSU
Kristopher Crowley, Burns-Paiute Tribe, Malheur NWR
Ben Frable, OSU
James Leal, BLM
Doug Markle, OSU
Josh Nurre, Malheur NWR
Stan Sheparrdson, Rinehart Ranch
Bill Tinniswood, ODFW
Questions?
Rome, OR, Owyhee Co.