scholarly journals Feeding habits and dietary overlap of age-0 winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) and summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) in southern New England tidal rivers

2017 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Taylor ◽  
Carissa L. Gervasi
2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 1189-1200
Author(s):  
Matthew R. Siskey ◽  
Michael G. Frisk ◽  
Robert M. Cerrato ◽  
Karin E. Limburg

The southern New England – mid-Atlantic (SNE–MA) stock of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) collapsed in the 1990s without discernable recovery to date. Owing to the lack of recovery, consideration of population subcomponents, which are currently ignored in fisheries stock structure definitions, may be necessary for rebuilding. We used the otolith chemistry tracer manganese–calcium ratios (Mn/Ca) to estimate inshore- versus ocean-nursery contributions of 77.3%/22.7% in SNE–MA, 15.7%/84.3% in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), and 60.0%/40.0% in Georges Bank (GB). In addition, we used strontium–calcium ratios (Sr/Ca) to estimate migratory- and resident-contingent membership of nursery-classified fish. Across all stocks, 30.2% of fish were classified as bay residents, 25.2% as bay migrants, 25.8% as ocean residents, and 18.8% as ocean migrants. Finally, model selection indicated that both nursery-specific and contingent-specific growth models were more appropriate than a common model. Nursery-specific models exhibited increasing deviations in length with age. Contingent-specific model reflected moderate differences at the youngest ages but convergence at older ages. These findings are informative for the population structure and migration ecology of winter flounder; however, simulation is required to determine whether partial migration and substock structure are necessary inputs for sustainable fisheries management.


2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P Manderson

The spatial scales at which the dynamics of subpopulations are synchronized affect regional population persistence and reflect the operational spatial scales of factors regulating populations. I examined phase synchrony in the fluctuations of age-0 winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) production among 19 southern New England (SNE), USA, coastal nurseries. From 1990 to 2004, nursery production was synchronized at scales up to ~200 km based on spatial trends in cross-correlations of first-differenced age-0 abundance time series. However, sliding window analysis of 1975–2005 time series collected in six nurseries ≤55 km apart in northern SNE indicated that synchrony increased from low to high values in the early 1990s. Synchrony in production also increased among three nurseries ≤65 km apart in southern SNE from 1984 to 2004. Thus, interannual fluctuations in nursery production appeared to become synchronized at coarser spatial scales throughout SNE during the 1990s. This coarsening of the spatial scale of control of winter flounder nursery production was coincident with an increase in the frequency of springs with warm temperatures believed to negatively affect early life history processes. Spatial synchronization of winter flounder nursery ground production could destabilize the age-class structure and population dynamics in the region.


1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 2804-2811 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Scott

Prevalence of digenean parasites in four major flatfishes of the Scotian Shelf and southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), and winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), is compared between hosts in relation to geographic distribution, season, feeding behavior, and fish length. The 13 parasite species indicate overlap of feeding habits among hosts but also considerable diversity in feeding behavior, supporting the evidence from examination of stomach contents. Prevalence of digeneans in different final hosts varied between geographic areas and may be used to characterize the populations of the comparatively sedentary flatfish populations. Seasonal variation in prevalence was consistent from area to area but differed between parasites, from the expected increase in summer in some, concomitant with increased feeding, to a winter increase in others, probably related to a seasonal change of diet. Fish length had little effect on parasite prevalence in yellowtail flounder and witch flounder but had a notable effect on plaice and winter flounder from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, again apparently related to change of diet.


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