Activity, Shelter Usage, Growth and Recruitment of Juvenile Red Hake Urophycis chuss

Abstract

Juvenile red hake U. chuss (Walbaum) live in symbiotic association with sea scallops Placopecten magellanicus , immediately following the hake's descent from the planktonic post-larval stage to the benthos. Feeding behavior, activity rhythms, shelter preference and growth of juvenile fish were observed in the laboratory. In the laboratory, hake activity, which included swimming and agonistic encounters, was predominantly nocturnal. Results suggest that shelter is an important resource for juvenile red hake. Variable growth rates and a prolonged recruitment period of hake to the benthos may result in overlap in size between different year classes of red hake. The abundance of juvenile red hake may be a better predictor of future year-class strength than planktonic eggs and larvae