Life history of Maurolicus muelleri in fjordic and oceanic environments

Life history parameters are compared for populations of Maurolicus muelleri from Norwegian fjords and the Norwegian Sea in 1995 and 1996. The mortalit y rate was higher in the oceanic population (2.55 for males, 2.00 for femal es) than in the fjords (1.15 for males, 0.97 for females). Fish from the No rwegian Sea population occupied a depth with higher light levels, which may have contributed to the higher mortality through increased visibility to p redators. Differences in growth, condition and gonad weight indicated diffe rent resource levels caused by different population densities. Recruitment was weak in many fjords in 1994, but not in the Norwegian Sea. It is sugges ted that wind-generated advection may affect recruitment in fjords on the w estern coast of Norway. (C) 1998 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles .