What can size distributions within cohorts tell us about ecological processes in fish larvae?
Folkvord, A.; Fiksen, Ø.; Høie, H.; Johannessen, A.; Otterlei, E.; Vollset, K.W. (2009). What can size distributions within cohorts tell us about ecological processes in fish larvae? Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 73(Suppl. 1): 119-130. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2009.73s1119 In: Scientia Marina (Barcelona). Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Institut de Ciènces del Mar: Barcelona. ISSN 0214-8358; e-ISSN 1886-8134, more |   |
| Keywords | Availability > Food availability
Concentration
Environmental effects > Temperature effects
Growth rate
Interspecific relationships > Predation
Life history
Population characteristics > Population structure > Size distribution
Population functions > Mortality
Marine/Coastal | | Author keywords | growth strategies; life history; mortality; prey concentration; sizedistribution; temperature; trade-off |
| Authors | | Top | - Folkvord, A.
- Fiksen, Ø.
- Høie, H.
| - Johannessen, A., more
- Otterlei, E.
- Vollset, K.W.
| |
| Abstract | Marine fish larvae are subject to variable environments, which is probably reflected in their growth and survival rates. Mortality rates are generally high and size-dependent. At the species level, these mortality rates are usually accompanied by correspondingly high growth rates. Here we provide examples from experimental studies with Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae, in which multiple cohorts were followed over time. Body size, prey concentrations, and temperature are shown to influence growth rates. We present a method based on Cumulative size distributions (CSDs) for visualizing variability of sizes within cohorts over time. Analysis of CSDs revealed size-selective mortality and variations among populations in size- and temperature-dependent growth throughout ontogeny. We found that cod larvae consistently exhibit higher growth rates than herring larvae. While cod larvae may have an advantage over herring larvae when food availability is high, herring were more able to survive at low food concentrations than cod. Cod and herring seem to represent two growth strategies: cod larvae are relatively small at hatching and a high growth rate appears to be a prerequisite for success, whereas herring larvae are initially large, but grow more slowly. |
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