The ecology of young turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), at Borth, Cardiganshire, Wales

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Author: Jones, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1973
• Subjects: Scophthalmus maximus; Turbot
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1973.tb04465.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1973.tb04465.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1973.tb04465.x

The ecology of 0‐ and 1‐group turbot was studied at Borth, Cardiganshire, during the years 1966–68. Newly‐metamorphosed turbot appeared in the surf zone from July to October, Abundance during the period September 1967 to May 1968 decreased at an average rate of 25% of the sampled population per month. Fish of the 1966 year‐class grew from a mean length of 4.5 cm in September 1966 to 14.4 cm in October 1967. Growth was fast in the spring and summer, slowing during the late autumn and winter. The most important food items of 0‐ and 1‐group turbot by percentage occurrence and dry weight were polychaetes and mysids. The daily food intake of 0‐group turbot in September 1967 was estimated as 2.5 % of the body weight per day.