GROWTH AND DURATION OF THE PLANKTONIC PHASE AND A STAGE BASED POPULATION MATRIX OF DOVER SOLE, MICROSTOMUS-PACIFICUS

We describe the age and growth of planktonic larvae and pelagic stages of Dover sole, Microstomus pacificus, from daily increments in the ot oliths. By rearing larvae from eggs in the laboratory, we validated th e formation of daily increments. Increment widths in the central core area are as narrow as 0.23 mu m, therefore, we imaged all otoliths wit h scanning electron microscopy. Larval Dover sole grow rapidly in leng th during stage one (6.5-55 mm), then apparently shrink during stage t wo and grow slowly during stage three and four. Stage one lasts up to 200 days, stage two about 100 days and stage three and four up to 400 days. The oldest pelagic fish aged was 867 days old. Development reach es stage three within 1 year and settlement may occur then, but a few Dover sole remain pelagic for over 2 years.