Mathew Cieri wrote:

>  So the question is...Why use age at all to determine survival? Is being
> older impart an ability to reduce either an individual predation or
> starvation probability? Given that "Bigger" is supposedly "better", why
> bother with age at all? Why not base larval (invertebrate and veterbrate)
> mortality on size alone?
>
>  Perhaps a better predictor of larval survival is a combination of size (as
> it effect predation), condition (as if effects both starvation and
> predation), and hydrology.

My answer,

With age probability of succumbing to diseases (because of breakdown in the
immune system), accumulating death threatening pollutants, malfunctioning of
organs, encountering predators, loosing defense (from predation) capability,
etc. increases. In the case of larval fish what you have mentioned seems to be
valid.
Cheers
Shareef Siddeek

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
       To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to:
        mailto:[log in to unmask]
 For information send INFO FISH-SCI to [log in to unmask]
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>