Fish and Fisheries Research: Reports and Scientific News
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Subject: Two populations of Coregonus albula (Linnaeus, 1758) in Lake Stechlin
(Germany, Brandenburg)
Authors: K. Anwand, G. Staaks and M. Valentin
Source: IGB Berlin, Germany
Date: 03.09.1996
Head of Reseach Group: Prof. Dr. Karl Anwand
Electronic mail: oki@igb-berlin.de (Dr. Georg Staaks)
Telefax: +49 (0)30 64 181 600
Telephone: +49 (0)30 64 181 612
Postal address: Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
Department Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Mueggelseedamm 310, D -
12587 Berlin, Germany
Species identification and Stock identity
Scientific name of species: Coregonus albula Linnaeus
Local name: Kleine Maräne, vendace
Geographical area: Germany, Brandenburg, Lake Stechlin
Source of additional information
In press: K. Anwand, G. Staaks, M. Valentin (1996)
Zwei unterschiedliche Formen con coregonus albula L. ( Teleostei;
Coregonidae ) im nordbrandenburgischen Stechlinsee (Deutschland). Z.
Fischkunde
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Abstract:
In Lake Stechlin (Brandenburg, Germany) two populations of vendace (
Coregonus albula L.) were found. They differ statistically significant
in several morphological characteristics. Furthermore they spawn at
different times, select other habitats in the lake and show different
growth rates.Both varieties, the nominal and the deepwater type, live
in harmonious coexistence without producing bastards. The deepwater
variety differs also from Coregonus albula lucinensis , which was
found and described by Thienemann (1933) and Waterstraat (1990) in
Lake Breiter and Schmaler Luzin (Mecklenburg, Germany). Both deepwater
varieties seem to be relics from the early postglacial period, which
survived because of their hydrogeographic isolation. The Lake Stechlin
is the second place in Germany and the whole southern Baltic region
where this rare and nearly extinct vendace was found.
Keywords:
Coregonus albula , Coregonus albula lucinensis , morphologic
characteristics, relic species, endangered species, Lake Stechlin
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In 1933 Thienemann published the very first description of a deep
water variety of Coregonus albula L. from the waters around Feldberg,
Lake Breiter Luzin, Lake Schmaler Luzin and Lake Carwitz in
Mecklenburg- Vorpommern. He described this to be a separate species
Coregonus albula lucinensis . This species differed from the common
vendace which is widespread in North Germany and the whole baltic
region in certain morphological characteristics: a flat head, a
different shape of eyes, shorter gill rakers at the first branchial
arcus. Furthermore Coregonus albula lucinensis showed an other growing
speed, and kind of nutrition (benthic feeder). It mainly lives in the
greater depths of the hypolimnic region below 20 m, which led to its
characterization as a "deepwater variety" of Coregonus albula .
Thienemann (1933) postulated this population to be a relic community
of the primitive vendace species from the cold early postglacial
period, which survived because of the hydrogeographic isolation from
the surrounding vendace-lakes and the hitherto remained oligothrophic
character of the Feldberger waters. This unique species had not yet
been discovered in other german lakes. Waterstraat (1990) proved its
recent existence in Lake Breiter Luzin and compared the both
populations of the common and deep water variety, as had Thienemann
done years before. 30 years after Thienemann, Bauch (1963) remarked,
that along with the common vendace a deep water variety of vendace
should also exist in Lake Stechlin (Brandenburg), but he did not
deliver exact scientific data. Because this variety of vendace was not
found in the catches of professional fisherman, nothing was known
about the its further existence and biology. It seemed to be distinct.
During our ichthyofaunistic research we surprisingly dicovered two
different populations of Coregonus albula to exist in Lake Stechlin
(1) . As a precise analysis showed, they are dissimilar in several
morphological, biological and ecological characteristics. They will be
labeled the nominal and deepwater variety, until further
investigations allow an exact taxonomic classification. Additionally
the deep water varieties of vendace from Lake Stechlin and Lake
Breiter Luzin differ from one another.
The most important differences between both varieties of vendace from
Lake Stechlin are:
1. Ten morphologic parameters, which formerly proved to be especially
useful for the differentiating of vendace species were measured.
Four of them showed statistically significant differences between
the nominal and deepwater variety of Coregonus albula .(table 1)
CAPTION: Table 1. Comparison of the nominal and the deepwater
varieties of vendace (Coregonus albula L.) from Lake Stechlin
morphological characteristics nominal type deepwater variety
mean s n mean s n t-value
number of scales
in the lateral line 82.30 1.18 86 80.65 1.64 190 8.40**
number of
vertebrae 54.33 1.21 90 53.11 1.26 196 7.86**
number of soft rays
of the anal fin 11.09 0.78 88 10.90 0.78 191 1.89
number of gill rakers at
the first branchial arcus 43.44 1.26 62 43.56 1.14 191 0.72
relative length of
gill rakers [%] 3.22 0.21 62 3.47 0.46 193 4.02**
hight to width
of eyes [%] 92.78 6.13 90 94.76 9.31 205 1.89
length of head to
total length [%] 20.96 1.04 90 21.93 1.58 205 5.32**
width of head to
length of head [%] 31.39 3.39 90 30.86 3.93 205 1.17
distance of ventral fin
and anus [cm] at
Lt < = 18 and = > 21cm 1.47 0.25 59 1.42 0.32 36 0.84
s = standard deviation; n = number of fish
** significant difference at the 0,001 level
These were:
+ number of scales along the lateral line,
+ number of vertebrae,
+ relative length of gill rakers at the first branchial arcus,
+ relative length of head.
Despite these differences both varieties are very similar in
appearance and could not be easily determined by eye.
2. An important difference exists at spawning time and in the cycle
of maturation between the both varieties of vendace. While the
nominal type normally spawns at the beginning of December, the
deepwater type reproduces, according to the latest observations,
toward the end of April until the beginning of May. So we must
consider the latter to be a springtime spawner like the
Scandinavian species Coregonus tryboni (Svärdson, 1957, 1979).
This dissimilar behaviour prevents the development of bastards
between both varieties and enables their harmonious coexistence.
Nothing is known about the spawning grounds of the deepwater
variety until now.
3. Both populations occupy different habitats of Lake Stechlin . This
was proved through catches with gillnets at different depths, in
which we found the nominal type to live most often above 20 to 25
m while the deepwater variety settles at greater depths. Because
of the oligothrophic character of the lake, good conditions for
the existence of vendace are found in these depths throughout the
year.
4. An obvious difference also exists in the growth of both varieties.
The growth of the nominal type refers to the average growth of
Coregonus albula in other lakes of northern Germany (Bauch, 1963,
Müller, 1958, 1966). The growth of the deepwater type is
comparatively slower (table 2). As short living species, both
varieties reach only an age of 5 to 6 years.
CAPTION: Table 2.Growth of the nominal and the deepwater varieties
of vendace (Coregonus albula L.) from Lake Stechlin
Age
[years] nominal type deepwater variety
mean Lt
[cm] mean weight
[g] mean Lt
[cm] mean weight
[g]
1 11.0 7.5 8.2 4.7
2 18.5 44.0 12.2 11.8
3 20.1 61.3 14.4 18.8
4 21.4 70.5 16.4 29.6
5 23 95.2 20.4 49.3
To enlarge our existing knowledge of both varieties of vendace in Lake
Stechlin , further research on these populations is planned. This will
also include electrophoretic methods of population determination.
Besides the differences between nominal and deepwater types of Lake
Stechlin also the two deepwater varieties of Lake Stechlin and Lake
Breiter Luzin differ from one another. They show small dissimilarities
in morphological parameters, growth and nutrition. Despite this both
varieties seem to be relics of the cold postglacial period. They
maintained their former body shapes and were able to survive in both
of these waters. Furthermore they seem to be related to the
Scandinavian springtime spawning vendace species. As ichthyofaunistic
rare species with only these two known habitats in Germany and the
southern Baltic region, they must be regarded as a greatly endangered
species which demands special attention and protection.
References:
Bauch, G. (1963).
Die einheimischen Süßwasserfische. Neumann-Verlag. Radebeul und Berlin
Casper, S. J. (ed.) (1985).
Lake Stechlin - A temperate oligotrophic lake. Monogr. Biol. 58.
Dortrecht, Bosten, Lancaster
Müller, H. (1958).
Die Einbürgerung der Kleinen Maräne in tiefe Bleiseen. Dtsch.
Fischerei-Ztg. 5: 292-301
Müller, H. (1966).
Die für die Kleine Maräne (Coregonus albula L.) geeigneten Gewässer
der DDR. Dtsch. Fischerei-Ztg. 13: 362-372
Svärdson, G. (1957).
The coregonid problem. VI. The palaearctic species and their
intergrades. Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res. Drottingholm 38: 267-356
Svärdson, G. (1959).
Speciations of coreginid fishes. Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res.
Drottingholm 57: 1-57
Thienemann, A. (1933).
Coregonus albula lucinensis , eine Tiefenform der Kleinen Maräne aus
einem norddeutschen See. Zugleich ein Beitrag zur Rassenbildung bei
Coregonus albula L. Z. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 27: 654-683
Waterstraat, A. (1990).
Ökologische Untersuchungen an Populationen der Kleinen Maräne
(Coregonus albula L.) im Breiten Luzin (Bezirk Neubrandenburg)
Fortschr. Fischereiwiss. 9: 93-104
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