Conclusions:
1)
Potential prey increases with photoperiod (and temperature) during the
period of larval drift (February to May).
2)
Larval growth is related to potential-prey abundance.
3)
Smaller, younger larvae have lower maximum growth rates and require
higher prey levels to achieve maximum growth rates.
4) The
year 1995 was a period of low prey abundance and poor growth of cod and haddock larvae.
5) Prey abundance and
larval growth are inversely related to salinity.
6)
Further resolution of the roles of prey abundance, photoperiod and water
temperature in determining larval growth rates will require
studies across systems with different schedules of change in these variables.