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MEPS
Marine Ecology Progress Series

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MEPS 344:231-244 (2007)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06933

Dynamics of shallow-water juvenile flatfish nursery grounds: application of the self-thinning rule

R. D. M. Nash1,*, A. J. Geffen2, M. T. Burrows3, R. N. Gibson3

1Institute of Marine Research, PB 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway
2Department of Biology, University of Bergen, PB 7800, 5020 Bergen, Norway
3Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, PO Box 3, Oban, Argyll PA34 4AD, Scotland

ABSTRACT: Annual development of density and mean weight of juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa was examined at 2 nursery grounds (Port Erin Bay, Isle of Man, Irish Sea and Admucknish Bay, Firth of Lorne, west coast of Scotland) over a number of years. In both cases there was evidence of ‘self-thinning' in the populations when the density was high, although in Port Erin Bay the slope suggested a relationship different from the standard –4Ú3 rule proposed for animal populations. The site specific dynamic thinning lines (dynamic carrying capacities) were consistent with the dynamic thinning line (–4Ú3 rule) for both populations. The 2 nursery grounds were different, with growth rates and densities generally higher on the Ardmucknish Bay nursery ground compared with Port Erin Bay. Similarly, the estimated total biomass of plaice was higher in Ardmucknish Bay than Port Erin Bay, but there was considerable inter-annual variation. Maximum plaice biomass generally occurred from August to September for both sites. In Port Erin Bay this coincided with the maximum consumption rates. The size structure was described using the Gini coefficient (G) and the timing of size structure development by the centre of gravity (CG). The size structure of the populations differed and in both cases varied during the season in response to settlement and mortality. Over the study periods, population density was only occasionally high enough to reach the site specific self-thinning line. This suggests that these populations rarely approached the carrying capacity of the nursery grounds.


KEY WORDS: Flatfish · Nurseries · Self-thinning · Density · Plaice


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Cite this article as: Nash RDM, Geffen AJ, Burrows MT, Gibson RN (2007) Dynamics of shallow-water juvenile flatfish nursery grounds: application of the self-thinning rule. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 344:231-244. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps06933

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