Náttúrufræðingurinn - 2001, Page 81

maximum length (Loo) of 76 cm, or dose to the
observed maximum of 79 cm (Fig. 8).
The prey of whiting consist mainly of various
pelagic fish species, primarily sandeels
(Ammodytidae) and capelin (Mallotus villosus)
as well as herring (Clupea harengus) and Nor-
way pout (Trisopterus esmarki) (Fig. 9). How-
ever, the smallest fish prey mainly on crusta-
ceans, e.g. shrimps (Crangon crangon,
Pandalus borealis) or euphausiids (Mega-
nyctiphanes norvegica, Thysanoessa spp.) (Fig.
10 A). Feeding characteristics, i.e. mean stomach
content, prey number and prey size are
exponentially related to predator length (Fig. 10,
B-D). Abundance indices, based on mean catch
in numbers, indicate an increasing stock size
1985-1995, but a slight decline in more recent
years (Fig. 11 B). It is concluded that whiting, in
spite of its limited value in economic terms, has
a value of its own in terms of biodiversity, as
any other species. In view of relatively limited
and sharp spatial distribution, whiting may have
a potential as an indicator of environmental
change, a potential which may in fact be postu-
lated for any species, irrespective of stock size
or commercial value.
■ HEIMILDIR
Bjarni Sæmundsson 1925. On the age and
growth of the haddock (Gadus œglefinus L.)
and the whiting (Gadus merlangus L.) in Ice-
landic waters. Medd. Komm. Havunders.,
Serie: Fiskeri, VIII. 1-33.
Bjarni Sæmundsson 1926. Fiskarnir (Pisces
Islandiae). Bókaverslun Sigfúsar Eymunds-
sonar, Reykjavík. 512 bls.
Faber, F. 1829. Naturgeschichte der Fische Is-
lands. Druck und Verlag von Heinrich Ludwig
Brönner. Frankfurt am Main. 206 bls.
Gunnar Jónsson 1983. íslenskir fiskar.
Fjölvaútgáfan, Reykjavík. 519 bls.
Gunnar Jónsson 1992. íslenskir fiskar, 2. útgáfa
aukin. Fjölvaútgáfan, Reykjavík. 568 bls.
Karl Gunnarsson, Gunnar Jónsson & Ólafur K.
Pálsson 1998. Sjávarnytjar við ísland. Mál og
Menning. Reykjavík. 282 bls.
Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the world. 3rd edi-
tion. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 600 bls.
Ólafur K. Pálsson 1980. Uber die Biologie junger
Gadiden der Altersgruppen O, I und II in
islándischen Gewássern. Meeresforschung,
28. 101-145.
Whitehead, P.L.P, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau,
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PÓST- OG NETFANG HÖFUNDAR/
Authors 's address
Ólafur Karvel Pálsson
Hafrannsóknastofnunin/
Marine Research Institute
Skúlagötu 4
P.O. Box 1390
IS-121 Reykjavík
okp@hafro.is
159