Cryptic behaviour of juvenile turbot Psetta maxima L. and European flounder Platichthys flesus L

The aim of this study was to examine the burying behaviour of hatchery-reared European flounder Platichthys flesus and turbot Psetta maxima, and whether conditioning on a sandy substrate would improve burying efficiency. Both species buried shortly after release on a sandy substrate. However, the st...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Open Journal of Marine Science
Main Authors: Kristensen, Louise Dahl, Sparrevohn, Claus Reedtz, Christensen, Jens Tang, Støttrup, Josianne
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://orbit.dtu.dk/en/publications/850717e4-c5f1-41f4-ae14-f53e428fb708
https://doi.org/10.4236/ojms.2014.43018
https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/files/105634668/Cryptic_Behaviour_of_Juvenile.pdf
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Summary:The aim of this study was to examine the burying behaviour of hatchery-reared European flounder Platichthys flesus and turbot Psetta maxima, and whether conditioning on a sandy substrate would improve burying efficiency. Both species buried shortly after release on a sandy substrate. However, the study revealed interspecies differences; the flounder buried immediately after release, while the turbot buried gradually. No significant difference in burying efficiency was observed between naïve and conditioned flounder and turbot. An effect of size on burial efficiency was observed for both flounder and turbot with a tendency for larger fish to bury more efficiently than smaller fish, despite previous conditioning. Size at settlement was found to be >2 cm for flounder and >3 cm for turbot.