Behaviour and the distribution of flatfishes

The paper reviews the changes in distribution that take place during the development of flatfishes from the egg to the adult. It describes the behaviour patterns involved in changing habitats, particularly the use of vertical migration to take advantage of tidal currents to aid transport, and the controlling mechanisms underlying these behaviour patterns. The discussion of mechanisms concentrates on the role of possible external (light, temperature, salinity, currents and pressure) and internal (endogenous rhythms, physiological state) cues used to time movements. It also considers the likely clues for directing movement (mainly environmental gradients) and for recognising destinations (food, conspecifics, chemical characteristics, substratum type). Finally, the role of learning in flatfish movement patterns is briefly discussed.