Genetics of Zoarces populations

The geographical variation of the loci EstIII, Hbl, Pgml and Pgmll is reinvestigated in Mariager Fjord and in the Ise Fjord-Roskilde Fjord complex (Denmark), and the variation in the fjord Sli (or Schlei, West Germany) is described. In addition, the geographical variation at a locus for malic enzyme (Me) is investigated in these areas-Further evidence on the microgeographical clines at EstIII in Mariager Fjord and in Ise Fjord-Roskilde Fjord is presented. No similar variation is found in the Sli. Significant microgeographical variation is found at all loci in some fjords. Locations within a fjord show large heterogeneities in the age composition of the samples. At PgmII, Hbl and EstIII only minor differences in gene frequencies among age classes were found at any location, but age class heterogeneities were found at Pgml in Ise Fjord Roskilde Fjord. Sex differences occurred at PgmII and EstIII.-The geographic variation at Me seems parallel to the clines at Hbl and EstIII.