Spatial and temporal patterns of juvenile stone flounder Kareius bicoloratus growth rates during and after settlement

Abstract

Spatial and temporal differences In habitat characteristics of coastal nursery grounds can have a large ~m p a c t on growth rate survival, and subsequent recruitment of species w ~t h e s t u a r ~n edependent early life history stages Stone flounder Karelus bicoloratus IS a temperate North Pacific flatfish species characterized by large recruitment variability and an estuanne-dependent juvenile stage Post-larvae settle from m ~d -J a n u a r y to early Apnl In inshore and estuanne nursery grounds, and luveniles subsequently rnove farther inshore using selective t ~d a l stream transport Laboratory btud~es were conducted to determine the s e n s i t ~v ~t y of juven~le stone flounder growth rates to changes In temperature and feeding rates at conditions common durlng settlement (8C) and post-settlement (12cC) The relat~onship between RNA DNA ratio and growth rate {+as developed in the laboratory, and was used to measure in sltu growth rates of juven~les from 5 dltferent habltats durinq settlement (March) and after (April) Juvenile stone tlounder in the laboratory giew reldt~vely quickly feeding ad l ~b ~t u m at 8C