The importance of vertical movements in the early life hisrory of marine fishes

Abstract

The survival rate during the early life stages of a species is considered critical in determining a year class's contribution to a fish stock. Early life stages have often been considered passive particles and the patterns of distribution in nature the result of differential mortality due to biotic factors (food availability, predation, competition) and environmental variability (temperature, water quality and movement). Though important, this view fails to account for the different patterns of larval behavior that influence the distribution of juveniles. Examples are given to illustrate how transport and retention mechanisms are accomplished through vertically oriented behaviors.