Larval cod in ponds and models

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Growth of larval cod is largely determined by body size and environmental conditions such as temperature, prey availability, light and turbulence. In order to investigate the effect of these processes on larval and juvenile cod, an Individual-Based Model (IBM) has been developed. Using data from a macrocosm study on the growth of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), we are able to evaluate model predictions with observations. Temporal variations in prey abundance, prey size and temperature from the experiment are used as forcing of the IBM and a variety of variables from the simulations are compared with experiment data, i.e. growth rate of larvae in the experiment. It appears that the larvae is unable to sustain the potential (size- and temperature-limited) growth, then growth must be a function of food ingestion.