Bimodality in head shape in European eel

C Ide; N De Schepper; J Christiaens; C Van Liefferinge; A Herrel; Geert Goemans; Patrick Meire; Claude Belpaire; Caroline Geeraerts; D. Adriaens

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00834.x

Bimodality in head shape in European eel

C Ide, N De Schepper, J Christiaens, C Van Liefferinge, A Herrel, Geert Goemans, Patrick Meire, Claude Belpaire, Caroline Geeraerts, D. Adriaens

Research output: Contribution to journal › A1: Web of Science-article › peer-review

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Abstract

The existence of two morphotypes, broadheaded and narrowheaded, in European eels Anguilla anguilla is common knowledge among fishermen and eel biologists in Europe. To test whether European eels really are dimorphic in head shape, a total of 277 specimens from two locations in Belgium (Scheldt–Lippenbroek and Lake Weerde), in combination with a larger data set of 725 eels from river systems across Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) were examined. Our biometric data support the hypothesis that a head shape variation in ‘Belgian’ European eel is best described as having a bimodal distribution. Literature data suggest that this may be the result of phenotypic plasticity related to trophic segregation between morphs.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Zoology
Volume	285
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	230–238
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0952-8369
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00834.x
Publication status	Published - 2011

Taxonomic list

freshwater eels (Anguillidae)

Policy

species directed nature management

Geographic list

Flanders

Technological

fisheries technology
biometry

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10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00834.x

227829Accepted author manuscript, 501 KB

Cite this

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title = "Bimodality in head shape in European eel",

abstract = "The existence of two morphotypes, broadheaded and narrowheaded, in European eels Anguilla anguilla is common knowledge among fishermen and eel biologists in Europe. To test whether European eels really are dimorphic in head shape, a total of 277 specimens from two locations in Belgium (Scheldt–Lippenbroek and Lake Weerde), in combination with a larger data set of 725 eels from river systems across Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) were examined. Our biometric data support the hypothesis that a head shape variation in {\textquoteleft}Belgian{\textquoteright} European eel is best described as having a bimodal distribution. Literature data suggest that this may be the result of phenotypic plasticity related to trophic segregation between morphs.",

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AU - Ide, C

AU - De Schepper, N

AU - Christiaens, J

AU - Van Liefferinge, C

AU - Herrel, A

AU - Goemans, Geert

AU - Meire, Patrick

AU - Belpaire, Claude

AU - Geeraerts, Caroline

AU - Adriaens, D.

N1 - Publication Authorstring : Ide, C.; De Schepper, N.; Christiaens, J.; Van Liefferinge, C.; Herrel, A.; Goemans, G.; Meire, P.; Belpaire, C.; Geeraerts, C.; Adriaens, D. Publication RefStringPartII : <i>Journal of Zoology (1987) 285(3)</i>: 230–238

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N2 - The existence of two morphotypes, broadheaded and narrowheaded, in European eels Anguilla anguilla is common knowledge among fishermen and eel biologists in Europe. To test whether European eels really are dimorphic in head shape, a total of 277 specimens from two locations in Belgium (Scheldt–Lippenbroek and Lake Weerde), in combination with a larger data set of 725 eels from river systems across Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) were examined. Our biometric data support the hypothesis that a head shape variation in ‘Belgian’ European eel is best described as having a bimodal distribution. Literature data suggest that this may be the result of phenotypic plasticity related to trophic segregation between morphs.

AB - The existence of two morphotypes, broadheaded and narrowheaded, in European eels Anguilla anguilla is common knowledge among fishermen and eel biologists in Europe. To test whether European eels really are dimorphic in head shape, a total of 277 specimens from two locations in Belgium (Scheldt–Lippenbroek and Lake Weerde), in combination with a larger data set of 725 eels from river systems across Flanders (the northern part of Belgium) were examined. Our biometric data support the hypothesis that a head shape variation in ‘Belgian’ European eel is best described as having a bimodal distribution. Literature data suggest that this may be the result of phenotypic plasticity related to trophic segregation between morphs.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00834.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00834.x

M3 - A1: Web of Science-article

SN - 0952-8369

VL - 285

SP - 230

EP - 238

JO - Journal of Zoology

JF - Journal of Zoology

IS - 3

ER -

Bimodality in head shape in European eel

Abstract

Taxonomic list

Policy

Geographic list

Technological

Access to Document

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Cite this