Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry
was calculated for the otolith width, length, area and perimeter of Merlangius merlangus caught in the
Middle Black Sea. In the present study, M.
merlangus samples were divided nine-total length groups. All total length
groups were examined for asymmetry values in the otolith characters, the
highest asymmetry values were found in the Group III. The lowest asymmetry
values in four otolith characters such as area, length, perimeter, and width
were calculated in the Group I and Group IX. In this study, it was determined
that the otolith asymmetry levels of M.
merlangus in the Middle Black Sea were varied between the four otolith
characters, the otolith area has the highest and the otolith length has the
lowest asymmetric feature. In addition, there was no significant relationship
between the asymmetry values of the four otolith characters and total length.
The asymmetry in these otolith characters may be a result of the stress from
different pollutants in the Black Sea.