Lack of sbttostratum effect on the growth and metamorphosis of larval plaice Pleuronectes platessa

Abstract

Larval plaice Pleuronectes platessa hatched from artificially fertilised eggs were reared in tanks containing sand of 3 grain sizes (62 to 125 pm, fine; 125 to 250 pm, medium; 1 to 2 mm, coarse), and in the absence of sand. Although there were significant differences in growth, development and mortality between 3 replicate experiments, the differences were not related to substratum type. It is concluded that substratum type per se is unllkely to affect growth or the timing of metamorphosis. However, in the sea, substratum characterishcs, because they control the dstribuhon of suitable food organisms, may influence growth and metamorphosis indirectly.