Title: Population biology of dab Limanda limanda in the southeastern North Sea
Abstract:This paper presents data on the length distribution and age composition of male and female dab Limanda limanda L, as observed in the German Bight in March 1990 during the Bremerhaven Workshop.Further ...This paper presents data on the length distribution and age composition of male and female dab Limanda limanda L, as observed in the German Bight in March 1990 during the Bremerhaven Workshop.Further data on distribution and seasonal movements from tagging experiments are reviewed with regard to the interpretation of the results of the studies carried out during the workshop.It is shown that highest densities of dab coincided with the main centre of egg production in the inner German Bight.Within the spawning period the spatial distribution changed significantly in a period of 2 wk between mid and late March: the abundance of dab increased in the inner German Bight and decreased at the offshore stations.The dab population was dominated by 4 and 5 yr old fish.Growth of dab was higher at the inner stations and on the Dogger Bank compared with the intermediate stations.The results of the tagging experiments suggest that the dab population at one sampling site is a temporary aggregation of fish originating from a large area.The significant change in the spatial distribution between mid-March and late March implies that even within a period of 3 wk substantial movements of dab occur.The results of the biological effects studies during the workshop, therefore, can only be interpreted In very general terms, especially when dealing with responses that are slowly induced, such as gross pathology (liver tumors) and the tissue residue data. MATERIAL AND METHODSBremerhaven Workshop.During the workshop 3 cruises were carried out.The sampling stations areRead More