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Occurrence of four‐spined Gasterosteus aculeatus in an isolated Croatian river population
Author(s) -
Zanella L. N.,
Zanella D.,
Mrakov^ić M.,
Miletić M.,
Mustafić P.,
Ćaleta M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02406.x
Subject(s) - gasterosteus , biology , stickleback , three spined stickleback , juvenile , spine (molecular biology) , predation , population , fluctuating asymmetry , zoology , dorsum , anatomy , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , demography , microbiology and biotechnology , sociology
An isolated population of the three‐spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus in Croatia was found to have a high incidence of specimens either having a fourth dorsal spine or showing remnants of a fourth spine. Juvenile individuals showed a 9·4% incidence of a fourth spine. The population was examined for asymmetry of the skeletal defensive complex in order to determine whether the additional spine could be the result of developmental instability, a response to predation or environmental conditions.