Spatial variation in growth, maturation schedules and reproductive investment of female sole Solea solea in the Northeast Atlantic

Mollet, Fabian M., Engelhard, Georg H., Vainikka, Anssi, Laugen, Ane T., Rijnsdorp, Adriaan D. and Ernande, Bruno (2013) Spatial variation in growth, maturation schedules and reproductive investment of female sole Solea solea in the Northeast Atlantic. Journal of Sea Research, 84. pp. 109-121. ISSN 1385-1101

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Abstract

Latitudinal variation in life-history traits is often explained by phenotypically plastic responses or local adaptations to different thermal regimes. We compared growth, maturation schedules and reproductive investment of female sole Solea solea between 8 populations, covering much of the species' distribution in northern Europe, with respect to thermal gradients. An energy allocation model was fitted to size-age data, and probabilistic maturation reaction norms were estimated from size-age-maturity data. We found that northern populations from colder environments had higher rates of energy acquisition and reproductive investment, an intrinsic tendency to mature earlier, and had smaller asymptotic sizes than southern populations from warmer environments. Consequently, growth rate was higher before maturation but lower after maturation in the north compared to the south. This is opposite to Bergmann's rule according to which slower growth, delayed maturation and larger asymptotic sizes are usually observed at lower temperatures. The observed patterns could indicate strong countergradient thermal adaptation for rapid growth and development as well as sustained fecundity in the north, or indicate a response to other selection pressures correlated with the thermal gradient. Potentially higher mortality in northern populations during cold winters might be one of the key drivers of the observed geographical variation in growth and maturation of sole.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
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Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 12 Nov 2014 16:56
Last Modified: 21 Oct 2022 00:17
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/50809
DOI: 10.1016/j.seares.2012.12.005

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