Differences in individual growth of newly settled O-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L) in the intertidal of neighbouring Wadden Sea areas

Growth of temporarily isolated subpopulations of tidally migrating 0-group plaice was registered during summer 1991 in two adjacent Wadden Sea areas separated by a high tidal watershed. One area had tidal sand flats with extremely poor food conditions for juvenile flatfish, as frequently occurring in the Wadden Sea. In contrast, the other area had mixed sediments which provide rich benthos conditions for the fish. By otolith microstructure analysis we demonstrated that individual fish grew faster in this rich area than in the other. Differences in growth between the two sites could be attributed to differences in food quality and quantity, Along the transect rich in benthos, individual growth equalled maximum growth calculated from a currently used, but not yet published, growth model for the early bottom-dwelling stages, which was thereby validated in the field.