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Theoretical Ecology Group |
 UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN Institutt for biologi |
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Fish Larval EcologyLarval fish are normally assumed to drift passively with the currents, with little influence on their horizontal dispersal trajectories. Is it possible that behaviour affect larval fish drift and recruitment success? Behaviour is a key determinant of growth-, mortality- and dispersal rates in larval fish. We explored the effects of vertical positioning of larval cod drifting in a fine-scaled general circulation model, and found that changes on the scale of meters in vertical positioning could alter their drift trajectories substantially. While vertical positioning is important to drift trajectories, it is also important for growth (temperature, light and prey availability) and predation risk from fish or invertebrates. We have proposed three key drivers of larval habitat selection: the local, immediate trade-off between growth and predation risk, the effect habitat selection has on future drift, environmental exposure and settlement area. We have looked in detail at how turbulence and light change foraging conditions of larval fish. We work with oceanographers, larval fish ecologists and even theoretical physicists to better understand the life of small fish. Now we also work on exotic species such as tuna and anchovies.
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