| Abstract: | In teleosts, egg size is an important determinant of larval size. The latter determines where larvae start feeding in the size spectrum of biomass particles. Egg and larval size also determine the size range of predators exploiting these early ontogenetic stages. Thus, egg size is important in determining the particle size range sampled during ontogeny. However, egg size also largely determines how many can be produced by a female. Optimum egg size for marine, pelagic fishes was estimated using a modification of a model developed by Ware. A numerical analysis using empirical information on size and temperature dependent mortality and growth in pelagic, marine systems suggests that allometry of size-dependent mortality and temperature are significant factors in determining optimum egg size. Allometry of mortality will depend on the frequency of encounters between particles of different sizes. Both empirical and modelling studies of such frequencies in pelagic and other environments are required. |
