Use of a Belgian sandy beach as a feeding ground for juvenile plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa L.)

Macrocrustaceans and juvenile demersal fish were sampled in spring of 1997 in the surf zone (+1m depth) of an exposed sandy beach at the Belgian coast (Lombardsiide). Three subsequent 24h-cycles were performed in order to investigate tidal, diurnal and/or semi-lunar distribution patterns. Juvenile plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. was the main fish species present in the samples: both 0- and I-group individuals were caught. While the 0-group seemed to move passively along with the water mass as it moves up and down the beach, a clear tidal migration pattern was observed for the I-group: highest... Mehr ...