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What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature?

Meekan, Mark G., Carleton, J. H., McKinnon, A. D., Flynn, K. and Furnas, M. (2003). What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature?. Marine Ecology - Progress Series,256:193-204.

Document type: Journal Article
Citation counts: Scopus Citation Count Cited 75 times in Scopus Article | Citations

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Title What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature?
Author Meekan, Mark G.
Carleton, J. H.
McKinnon, A. D.
Flynn, K.
Furnas, M.
Journal Name Marine Ecology - Progress Series
Publication Date 2003
Volume Number 256
ISSN 0171-8630   (check CDU catalogue open catalogue search in new window)
Scopus ID 2-s2.0-0042572210
Start Page 193
End Page 204
Total Pages 12
Place of Publication Oldendorf, Germany
Publisher Inter-Research
HERDC Category C1 - Journal Article (DEST)
Abstract The late-stage larvae of the reef fish Pomacentrus coelestis were collected using light traps at stations on a cross-shelf transect near Northwest Cape, Western Australia, during the spring and summer months (October to February) of 1997-98 and 1998-99. Physical (water temperature, wind) and biological (chlorophyll a, zooplankton abundance) variables were measured concurrently at each station. In 1997-98, environmental conditions were characterised by intrusive upwelling onto the shelf, relatively cooler water temperatures and higher chlorophyll a and zooplankton biomass. During the 1998-99 summer, water temperatures were warmer, and chlorophyll a and zooplankton biomass were relatively low. Catches of P. coelestis were much lower in the first summer (197 fish) than the second (1483 fish). Records of planktonic growth were obtained from otoliths of subsets of larvae from both summers. Growth varied among months within each summer; however, on average, larvae grew more slowly in the 1997-98 summer than the 1998-99 summer (0.48 mm d(-1) vs 0.53 mm d-1 respectively), despite the presumed food (copepods) being more abundant in the plankton. Partial correlation analysis showed that water temperature explained approximately 30% of the variation in growth of larval R coelestis. In contrast, chlorophyll a and zooplankton abundance explained much less (4.1 and 3.5 %, respectively).
Keywords larval fish
growth
otoliths
food
copepods
zooplankton
temperature
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps256193   (check subscription with CDU E-Gateway service for CDU Staff and Students  check subscription with CDU E-Gateway in new window)
Additional Notes Copyright by Inter-Research – Meekan, M.G., Carleton, J.H., McKinnon, A.D., Flynn, K., Furnas, M. - What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature? – MEPS 256:193-204 (2003) - http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v256/p193-204/


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