Larval Settlement of the Japanese Flounder on Sandy Beaches of the Yatsushiro Sea, Japan

Abstract

Larval settlement of the Japanese flounder was studied on six beaches of the Yatsu-shiro Sea. The settlement was seen from early March to late May, with a peak occurring from mid-March to late April. The population density was much higher along the beach, 15 to 70 cm deep, compared to waters 3–9 m deep. Comparison of the catches of newly settled larvae and older juveniles at each sampling site suggeted the following: the inci-dence of larval settlement on a beach is primarily governed by its location in relation to the pattern of the inflowing current at flood tide, whereas the density of food organisms and the quality of sediment affect the establishment of settlement, the survival rate, and the growth of the larvae. © 1993, The Japanese Society of Fisheries Science. All rights reserved.