Cf. Rakocinski et al., Relating environmental fluctuation and the early growth of estuarine fishes: Ontogenetic standardization, T AM FISH S, 129(1), 2000, pp. 210-221
Variability in early growth rates of estuarine-dependent juvenile fishes in
relation to large-scale meteorological forcing may be detected following t
he removal of ontogenetic growth trends. Here we develop a general approach
for the ontogenetic standardization of otolith daily records and demonstra
te the usefulness of this approach in terms of relating the early growth of
juvenile Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus to concurrent environmen
tal fluctuation. For these data, a linear/constant ontogenetic growth funct
ion provided the best fit to the inferred growth histories of individual fi
sh. Whereas daily proportional growth declined linearly during the presettl
ement period, constant proportional growth ensued during the postsettlement
phase of the first 50 d of early life. The recognition of such stage-speci
fic shifts in growth trajectories is essential for accurate ontogenetic sta
ndardization. Daily postsettlement growth could be ontogenetically standard
ized for individual Atlantic croaker by reference to postsettlement growth
constants. When averaged for individual fish, standardized daily growth was
coherent with meteorological forcing at two widely spaced sites, as was sh
own by cross-correlations among standardized growth, salinity, and water te
mperature.