Body size scaling relationships in flatfish as predicted by Dynamic Energy Bugets (DEB Theory): implications for recruitment
Veer, H. W. van der, Kooijman, S. A. L. M., Leggett, W. C. and Meer,
J. van der 2003.
Body size scaling relationships in flatfish as predicted by Dynamic
Energy Bugets: implications for recruitment.
J. Sea Research, r50: 255-270
Abstract
In this paper, we apply the a general quantitative
Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) framework to about the growth and
reproduction of an organism flatfish at varying food densities
(dynamic energy budgets; DEB theory, Kooijman 1988, 2000) to flatfish,
to We work out the various relationships between physiological and
ecological variables and body size in a systematic manner. The DEB
theory predicts that maximum body size is independent of temperature
and only determined by 4 parameters: the environmental food
conditions, the species-specific maximum surface area-specific
assimilation rate, the fraction of energy spent on (somatic)
maintenance and growth and the volume-specific cost of
maintenance. Differences between species can be captured in
differences in parameter values in the environmental food conditions,
the maximum surface area-specific assimilation rate and the fraction
of energy spent on maintenance and growth. The DEB theory predicts
that due to the latitudinal trend a environmental food conditions,
maximum body size will increase with latitude, both within as well as
among species. Since, size of at first maturation, egg size, larval
size and size at metamorphosis directly scale with maximum body size,
similar trends with latitude in these variables are expected. The DEB
theory further predicts that egg and larval stage duration are related
to egg volume0.25. Field data provide a strong support for
the various model predictions. Implications for recruitment level and
variability in flatfish are discussed.