This study evaluated the relative importance of the Narragansett Bay estuary (RI and MA, USA), and associated tidal rivers and coastal lagoons, as nurseries for juvenile winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, and summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus. Winter flounder (WF) and summer flounder (SF) abundance and growth were measured from May to October (2009–2013) and served as indicators for the use and quality of shallow-water habitats (water depth <1.5–3.0 m). These bioindicators were then analyzed with respect to physiochemical conditions to determine the mechanisms underlying intraspecific habitat selection. WF and SF abundances were greatest in late May and June (maximum monthly mean = 4.9 and 0.55 flounder/m² for WF and SF, respectively) and were significantly higher in the tidal rivers relative to the bay and lagoons. Habitat-related patterns in WF and SF abundance were primarily governed by their preferences for oligohaline (0.1–5 ppt) and mesohaline (6–18 ppt) waters, but also their respective avoidance of hypoxic conditions (<4 mg DO/L) and warm water temperatures (>25 °C). Flounder habitat usage was also positively related to sediment organic content, which may be due to these substrates having sufficiently high prey densities. WF growth rates (mean = 0.25 ± 0.14 mm/day) were negatively correlated with the abundance of conspecifics, whereas SF growth (mean = 1.39 ± 0.46 mm/day) was positively related to temperature and salinity. Also, contrary to expectations, flounder occupied habitats that offered no ostensible advantage in intraspecific growth rates. WF and SF exposed to low salinities in certain rivers likely experienced increased osmoregulatory costs, thereby reducing energy for somatic growth. Low-salinity habitats, however, may benefit flounder by providing refugia from predation or reduced competition with other estuarine fishes and macroinvertebrates. Examining WF and SF abundance and growth across each species’ broader geographic distribution revealed that southern New England habitats may constitute functionally significant nurseries. These results also indicated that juvenile SF have a geographic range extending further north than previously recognized.

中文翻译：

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新英格兰南部苗圃的少年比目鱼（Pseudopleuronectes americanus）和夏比目鱼（Paralichthys dentatus）的利用：河口，潮汐河和沿海泻湖浅水生境之间的比较。

这项研究评估的纳拉甘西特湾河口（RI和MA，USA），以及相关的潮汐河流和沿海泻湖的相对重要性，苗圃青少年冬季比目鱼，黄盖美洲和大西洋牙鲆，牙鲆。在5月至10月（2009-2013年）测量了冬季比目鱼（WF）和夏季比目鱼（SF）的丰度和生长情况，将其用作浅水生境（水深<1.5-3.0 m）的使用和质量的指标。然后针对理化条件对这些生物指标进行分析，以确定种内栖息地选择的机制。在5月下旬和6月，WF和SF的丰度最大（最大月平均值= 4.9和0.55比目鱼/ m ²分别为WF和SF），并且在潮汐河中相对于海湾和泻湖而言明显更高。WF和SF丰度中与生境有关的模式主要取决于它们对低盐（0.1-5 ppt）和中盐（6-18 ppt）水的偏爱，但也分别避免了低氧条件（<4 mg DO / L）和热水温度（> 25°C）。比目鱼栖息地的使用也与沉积物有机物含量成正相关，这可能是由于这些基质具有足够高的猎物密度。WF生长速率（平均= 0.25±0.14 mm /天）与丰富的菌种负相关，而SF生长速率（平均= 1.39±0.46 mm /天）与温度和盐度正相关。而且，与预期相反，比目鱼栖息的栖息地，在种内生长速度上没有明显的优势。在某些河流中，低盐度的白WF和SF渗透调节剂的成本可能增加，从而减少了体细胞生长的能量。然而，低盐度栖息地可能会因掠食或减少与其他河口鱼类和大型无脊椎动物的竞争而提供避难所，从而使比目鱼受益。在每个物种更广泛的地理分布中检查WF和SF的丰度和生长情况后发现，新英格兰南部的栖息地可能构成了功能上重要的苗圃。这些结果还表明，少年SF的地理范围比以前所认识的更北。从而减少了体细胞生长所需的能量。然而，低盐度栖息地可能会因掠食或减少与其他河口鱼类和大型无脊椎动物的竞争而提供避难所，从而使比目鱼受益。在每个物种更广泛的地理分布中检查WF和SF的丰度和生长情况后发现，新英格兰南部的栖息地可能构成了功能上重要的苗圃。这些结果还表明，少年SF的地理范围比以前所认识的更北。从而减少了体细胞生长所需的能量。然而，低盐度栖息地可能会因掠食或减少与其他河口鱼类和大型无脊椎动物的竞争而提供避难所，从而使比目鱼受益。在每个物种更广泛的地理分布中检查WF和SF的丰度和生长情况后发现，新英格兰南部的栖息地可能构成了功能上重要的苗圃。这些结果还表明，青少年SF的地理范围比以前所认识的更北。在每个物种更广泛的地理分布中检查WF和SF的丰度和生长情况后发现，新英格兰南部的栖息地可能构成了功能上重要的苗圃。这些结果还表明，少年SF的地理范围比以前所认识的更北。在每个物种更广泛的地理分布中检查WF和SF的丰度和生长情况后发现，新英格兰南部的栖息地可能构成了功能上重要的苗圃。这些结果还表明，少年SF的地理范围比以前所认识的更北。