Variation in maturity-at-age and size in three populations of American plaice

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Abstract
American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) is a flatfish species that has a wide distribution throughout the North Atlantic. Variability in age and size at maturity was examined for cohorts of American plaice from the early 1960s to early 1990s for the three main stocks off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Large changes in age and size at maturity have occurred among cohorts since the 1960s, with males and females of all three stocks maturing at an earlier age and smaller size in the latter part of the time period. Maturation was most closely related to total population abundance over the life of a cohort, with cohorts maturing at an earlier age and smaller size when population size was low. Cohorts which experienced higher temperatures appeared to mature earlier and smaller as did cohorts which experienced increased juvenile growth and increased adult mortality.

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