COMPARATIVE MORPHOMETRY OF A LOTIC AND A LENTIC POPULATION OF EUROPEAN CHUB (SQUALIUS CEPHALUS, LINNAEUS 1758)

G.-C. Muntean, C. Lațiu, P. Uiuiu, T. Păpuc, R. Constantinescu, Vioara Mireșan, D. Cocan

Abstract
    The chub (Squalius cephalus) is a freshwater species that belongs to the cyprinid family (Cyprinidae). In Romania we find it in almost every river and stream located in the submontaneous region. This species is very important for the trophic integrity of freshwater ecosystems in the submontaneous region. The chub is very adaptable, this being the reason why we encounter it in non-characteristic freshwater ecosystems for chub, especially in the reservoirs built in the last decades in Romania. On the other hand, there are true chub waters in Romania that are not holding numerous populations anymore. Because of these reasons, studies on this species are required. In this study we used morphometric methods and techniques to analyze two chub populations: a population in a specific chub environment, the Crișul Repede river upper sector and the population in the Beliș-Fântânele reservoir. For this study we captured and studied 97 chubs from the Crișul Repede river and 66 chubs from the Beliș-Fântânele reservoir. The results we obtained show that the Crișul Repede population is dwindling, possibly due to anthropic factors. For the Beliș-Fântânele reservoir, the results show that the species is adapting to the environmental conditions of the reservoir.