Contributions of Abiotic and Biotic Factors to Settlement in Summer Flounder, Paralichthys dentatus

Abstract

by both juvenile and metamorphic summer flounder for sand over mud substrate. Metamorphic individuals do not appear to be capable of burial in the substrate when they enter the estuary. Complete burial was only observed in late-metamorphic and juvenile stages. A diel pattern of burying behavior was observed and was dependent upon several environmental variables, including substrate, water temperature, tide, and the presence and type of predator, all of which may effect growth and survival during metamorphosis.