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.
Guideline for Sampling and Sample Treatment Eelpout (Zoarces viviparus)
Recommended analysis examples
Search data
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. |
|---|---|
| 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. |
Sampling area
| NP Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft | National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world. |
|---|---|
| BR/NP Wattenmeere | National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats. |
Analytes
| Metals | Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals |
|---|---|
| Nonmetals | Only eighteen elements in the periodic table |
| Organometallic compounds | Organic substances with at least one metall atom |
| Chlorohydrocarbons | Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom |
| Polycyclic musks | Class of synthetic fragrances |
| Supplementary parameters | Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data |
Sampling period
1994 - 2012
Extended information
Links to external information and legislation
Literature
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Histologische Untersuchung der Gonaden von Aalmuttern aus Nord- und Ostsee 2008
Gercken, Jens
Institut für Angewandte Ökologie Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (2009), FKZ 30102029, 2009
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Biologisches Effektmonitoring mit Aalmuttern aus Nord- und Ostsee
Gercken, Jens
Institut für Angewandte Ökologie Forschungsgesellschaft mbH (2007), FKZ 30102023, 2007
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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