SIMULATION OF RELATIONS AMONG FISH LIFE-HISTORY PARAMETERS WITH A BIOENERGETICS-BASED POPULATION-MODEL

Relations among life history parameters were sought in simulations usi ng a simple bioenergetic population model. The relations among paramet ers generated in simulations were close to those reported in field stu dies and obtained in theoretical derivations. The simulations also ind icated that there is an optimum number and mass of eggs, for as egg ma ss increased, total adult biomass increased to a maximum and then decr eased. The observed mass is nearly equal to the optimum mass in the si mulations. In the simulations the optimal relations among life history parameters resulted from simple relations among food abundance, popul ation abundance, growth, and mortality. Natural selection has resulted in bioenergetic and population relations that maximize adult biomass, and these processes result in the observed relations among life histo ry parameters.