Tough early life good for fish: Study

A difficult youth is a good thing, at least for a fish.

Researchers in the United States have carried out a study and found that fish larvae, which survive a long, rough and offshore journey, eventually arrive at a near shore reef in good condition, and thrive afterwards.

In contrast, locally produced young have a relatively easy life and they arrive on the reef (near the area where they were spawned) in a variety of conditions - from poor to good. Only the young that are in good condition survive after a month on the reef.

According to lead researcher Scott Hamilton of the University of California, "This research delves into one of the major questions of how populations are connected through dispersal. We want to know where the young of many marine organisms are coming from and going to, and what factors determine whether they survive."


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/HealthSci/Tough_early_life_good_for_fish_Study/articleshow/2750613.cms