Data from: Basic description and some notes on the evolution of seven sympatric morphs of Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma from the Lake Kronotskoe Basin

The paper examines the basic morphological and ecological features of Dolly Varden from Lake Kronotskoe (Russia, Kamchatka). Seven valid morphs different in head proportions, feeding, timing and place of spawning have been determined in this ecosystem. The basic morphometric characteristics clearly separate Lake Kronotskoe morphs from each other, as well as from its potential ancestor (Dolly Varden). According to CVA analysis, the most notable morphological characteristics determining the mouth position are: the length of a lower jaw and rostrum. Furthermore, five of seven morphs inhabit different depth zones of the lake and feed on different food resources. Our data suggest that reproductive isolation may be maintained by temporal/spatial isolation for two morphs with lacustrine spawning, and by spatial isolation only for the rest of the morphs with riverine spawning. The sympatric diversity of the Lake Kronotskoe charrs is exceptionally wide and there are no other examples for seven sympatric morphs of genus Salvelinus to coexist within a single ecosystem. This study puts forward a three-step hypothetical model of charr divergence in Lake Kronotskoe as a potential ground for future studies.

本研究探讨了俄罗斯堪察加地区克罗诺茨科耶湖（Lake Kronotskoe）内多丽红点鲑（Dolly Varden）的基础形态学与生态学特征。该生态系统中已确定7种有效形态型，它们在头部比例、摄食习性、产卵时间与产卵场位置上均存在差异。基础形态测量特征可清晰区分克罗诺茨科耶湖内的各形态型，同时也能将其与其潜在祖先种群（多丽红点鲑）区分开来。通过典范变量分析（Canonical Variate Analysis, CVA）可知，决定口部位置的最显著形态特征为下颌长度与吻突长度。此外，7种形态型中有5种栖息于湖泊的不同深度带，并以不同的食物资源为食。本研究数据显示，对于两种湖内产卵的形态型而言，其生殖隔离可通过时间/空间隔离维持；而其余5种河流产卵的形态型，则仅通过空间隔离维持生殖隔离。克罗诺茨科耶湖红点鲑的同域多样性极为丰富，目前尚无其他案例显示红点鲑属（Salvelinus）的7种同域形态型可在单一生态系统中共存。本研究提出了一套关于克罗诺茨科耶湖红点鲑分化的三步假说模型，可为后续相关研究提供潜在的研究基础。