Eelpout

As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems.

The European eelpout is a groundfish which inhabits coastal areas of the North and Baltic Seas and does not travel far. This makes it a very useful indicator within marine sampling areas. For this reason it was proposed by Sweden in 1991 as a coastal bioindicator for the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission). It is also envisaged as an indicator for the Baltic Monitoring Programme and the Joint Monitoring Programme.

Muscle and liver are used as a specimen. Sampling takes place once a year in the early summer.

For more information about the specimen, the sampling and the processing of samples see the Guideline for Sampling and Sample Processing Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus).

Recommended analysis examples

• Lead in eelpout from the North and the Baltic Sea

Target organs/Matrices

• Musculature

  The musculature or muscles are the eatable part of the fish and therefore are directly linked to the human food chain.

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• Liver

  The liver is the main reloading point of the substances within the body. Therefore the liver is analysed of the eco-toxicological relevant substances.

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Sampling area

Analytes

• Metals

  Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals

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• Nonmetals

  Only eighteen elements in the periodic table

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• Organometallic compounds

  Organic substances with at least one metall atom

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• Chlorohydrocarbons

  Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom

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• DDT and metabolites

  Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide

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• Hexachlorocyclohexane

  Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons

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• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds

  Organic compounds which are fully (per-) or partially (poly-) fluorinated

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• Polycyclic musks

  Class of synthetic fragrances

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• Stable Isotopes

  Atoms of one element with different weights

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• Flame Retardants

  Flame retardants reduce the flammability of objects

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• Siloxanes

  Cyclic methylsiloxanes with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties in the environment

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• Supplementary parameters

  Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data

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Sampling period

Biometric parameters

• Weight

   

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• Age

   

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• Gesamtlänge

   

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Extended information

Links to external information and legislation

• EUNIS biodiversity database - Zoarces viviparous (external)

Literature

• Histologische Untersuchung der Gonaden von Aalmuttern aus Nord- und Ostsee 2008
  Gercken, Jens
  Institut für Angewandte Ökologie Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (2009), FKZ 30102029, 2009
  
• Biologisches Effektmonitoring mit Aalmuttern aus Nord- und Ostsee
  Gercken, Jens
  Institut für Angewandte Ökologie Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (2007), FKZ 30102023, 2007
  
• Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) in marine environmental monitoring
  Hedman, Jenny E.; Rüdel, Heinz; Gercken, Jens; Bergek, Sara; Strand, Jakob; Quack, Markus; Appelberg, Magnus; Förlin, Lars; Tuvikene, Arvo; Bignert, Anders
  Mar. Pollut. Bull. 62 (2011), 10, 2015-2029, 2011