Morphometric and Meristic Characteristics Analyses of Two Western Irish Populations of Arctic Char, Salvelinus alpinus (L.)

Multivariate morphometric and meristic analyses of Irish Arctic char Salvelinus alpinus (L.) from Lough Eske, Co. Donegal, and Lough Mask, Co. Mayo, are presented. The analysis illustrated the monomorphic character of the two populations despite differences in growth and size between the ‘stunted’, slower-growing Lough Eske fish and the ‘normal’, faster-growing Lough Mask fish. The results are discussed in the context of other systems where sympatric morphs have been described. Differences in body size and growth rate appear to reflect the trophic status and the productivity of the two lakes. The results confirm earlier findings, which were based on dietary analysis and analysis of metazoan parasites of both Irish populations of Arctic char.