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The settlement, distribution and movements of O‐group plaice Pleuronectes platessa (L.) in Filey Bay, Yorkshire
Author(s) -
Lockwood Stephen J.
Publication year - 1974
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.1095-8649.1974.tb04563.x
Subject(s) - pleuronectes , pelagic zone , bay , biology , demersal zone , fishery , larva , fish <actinopterygii> , flatfish , plankton , metamorphosis , oceanography , ecology , geology
The pelagic larval stages and the demersal O‐group stage of plaice were sampled in the immediate vicinity of Filey Bay, Yorkshire (54°12′N, 00°16′W), using a modified Gulf V high‐speed plankton sampler and beam trawls. The distribution and movements of these fish were studied from the time of first settlement in May through the period of metamorphosis and the O‐group stage. It was found that the larvae settled in water deeper than 5 m and moved into shallow water following metamorphosis. This established a typical distribution of larger fish in shallower water than the smaller fish. When the fish grew over 40 mm they moved out again into deeper water which leads to a reversal of the lengthdepth distribution. Further movements during the winter months and of the I‐group fish were studied by tagging. It was found that emigration from the nursery ground did not occur until the I‐group stage.