A COMPARISON OF EARLY-LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS IN ATLANTIC MENHADEN BREVOORTIA-TYRANNUS AND GULF MENHADEN B-PATRONUS

Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus and gulf menhaden B. patronus expressed significant differences in their early-life-history traits under laboratory conditions. Eggs of Atlantic menhaden were larger and contained more yolk. Their larvae were larger at hatching, and contained more yolk. A suite of developmental events (yolk depletion, age at first feeding, and, possibly, age at metamorphosis) was achieved earlier in Atlantic menhaden. The expression of these early-life-history traits in each species may reflect adaptations to the contrasting environments that these species occupy.