Hydrodynamic starvation in first-feeding larval fishes
Abstract
A century ago, Johan Hjort described extreme mortality rates (>99%) of marine fish larvae within days of hatching and termed it the "critical period." Although multiple hypotheses were raised to explain this mass mortality, the mechanisms behind it remained unresolved. Here, we show that first-feeding larvae experience "hydrodynamic starvation," in which their hydrodynamic environment mechanistically limits their feeding performance. Our study offers an experimentally supported mechanism of starvation in larval fishes, focusing on the physics of suction feeding in low Reynolds numbers, rather than on prey concentrations and encounter. We believe our findings can help to better understand the early life history of marine fish and the selective forces they experience during the pelagic larval phase.
- Publication:
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- June 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1073/pnas.1323205111
- Bibcode:
- 2014PNAS..111.8083C