In:
Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 44, No. 11 ( 1987-11-01), p. 1936-1947
Abstract:
Offspring of adult winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) collected from Conception Bay, Newfoundland, were reared from fertilization to metamorphosis. We tested two hypotheses: 1) length and age at metamorphosis are equally variable among individuals and (2) length and age at metamorphosis are not correlated. Length at metamorphosis was significantly less variable than age at metamorphosis when data from all laboratory populations were pooled and in 15 of 18 populations. Coefficients of variation for length and age at metamorphosis for the pooled data were 0.051 and 0.123, respectively. Length and age at metamorphosis were positively correlated when the data were pooled (r = 0.42, p 〈 0.001) and within 8 of 18 populations. Larvae that metamorphose late do so at larger sizes. When length and age at metamorphosis were converted to growth and developmental rates for the full larval period, significant positive correlations were evident between these rates for the pooled data (r = 0.68, p 〈 0.001) and within 16 of 18 populations. Larvae that grow slowly, therefore, remain as larvae longer. An examination of published values on size and age at metamorphosis in marine fishes revealed a pattern consistent with our findings both within and among populations and environments: (1) variation in length was less than variation in age at metamorphosis and (2) positive correlations between growth and developmental rates were evident through the larval period. Increased size at metamorphosis may ameliorate competitive effects and reduce the risk of predation in the period immediately following metamorphosis. Due to the considerable variation in the duration of the larval period (age at metamorphosis) the number of individuals that successfully metamorphose and subsequently enter the mature population could be significantly altered under differing environmental conditions.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0706-652X
,
1205-7533
Language:
English
Publisher:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publication Date:
1987
detail.hit.zdb_id:
7966-2
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1473089-3
SSG:
21,3
SSG:
12
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