On the morphometry and growth rate in the viviparous eel‐pout, Zoarces viviparus (Zoarcidae) from waters of different salinity

Abstract

Proportional measurements, meristic counts and growth in the viviparous eel‐pout, Zoarces viviparus (L.) collected from one site in the Belt Sea (salinity = 23 ppt) and from two sites in the southern Baltic Sea (salinity = 7.6 and 7.9 ppt) was investigated. There was no significant correlation between salinity and number of vertebrae. There were, however, statistically significant correlations among several proportional measurements and meristic characters. The differences in growth rate, although within the range of intraspecific variability, may indicate that the fish were from separate stocks. The growth rate for both sexes was determined for each of the three locations with the von Bertalanffy growth equation. The highest growth rate was observed for the Pomeranian Bay population, while the lowest was from Little Belt.

Key words:

• Baltic Sea
• Zoarces viviparus
• Morphometry
• Growth
• Salinity effect