Enzyme heterozygosity associated with anatomical character variance and growth in the herring (Clupea harengus L.)

The hypothesis that enzyme heterozygosity is positively related to phenotypic characteristics in fish was tested using five polymorphic enzyme loci and seven anatomical characteristics in samples of North Irish Sea herring, Clupea harengus. Though not unambiguous the results indicated that heterozygosity was associated with increased developmental stability. Also, multiple homozygosity was negatively correlated with growth parameter estimates. Though no single locus correlates were evident, the level of multiple heterozygosity of an individual appeared to be positively related to body length.