Genetic studies on eggs, larvae and 0-group of the Arctic cod stock

Abstract

Genetic analyses have been performed on samples of spawning cod (March) , a large number of eggs and yalk sac 1arvae (May, postlarvae (July) and O-group cod (August-September). The distribution of eggs and larvae at different stages as well as biological and genetic data were in accordance with earlier observations on larval drift from the main spawning graunds, Same samples drawn from localities on the coact or in fjords differed , however, significantly from samples in the open sea. The genetic analyses of these samples, as observed in analyses of the LBH-3 locus, confirm the existence of 1ocally spawning groups of coaslial cod. The genetic data are discussed in relation to stock structure of cod, the significance of genetic variation within stocks and the problem of concervation of genetic resources.