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Growth variability of juvenile soles Solea solea and Solea senegalensis , and comparison with RNA : DNA ratios in the Tagus estuary, Portugal
Author(s) -
Fonseca V. F.,
Vinagre C.,
Cabral H. N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-1112.2006.001042.x
Subject(s) - biology , juvenile , estuary , rna , flatfish , otolith , zoology , dna , fishery , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , genetics , gene
Growth variability and condition of juvenile soles Solea solea and Solea senegalensis , were assessed through RNA : DNA estimates and compared to absolute growth rates. Higher mean cohort RNA : DNA ratios were observed for cohort I at the beginning of estuarine occurrence for both species (4·42 and 4·87, for S. solea and S. senegalensis respectively). Despite different estuarine colonization habits, no significant differences were observed between RNA : DNA monthly variation for both sole species within the same year ( P > 0·05 for 2003 and 2004). Juvenile S. senegalensis showed significant differences between RNA : DNA ratios obtained for the two nursery areas ( P < 0·001). The decrease of seasonal growth rates with fish age was similar to seasonal variation of mean RNA : DNA values. Thus the RNA : DNA pattern of juvenile S. solea and S. senegalensis reflected growth and estuarine colonization patterns.