20- 



16- 



12- 



A P 



76 



77 



78 79 



80 



51 82 83 

 YEAR 



84 85 



86 



87 



Fig. 40. Actual values (A) for the annual age 3 recruitment index (R) compared to predicted values (P) 

 determined from the relationship between the k parameter of the Gompertz function fitted to annual cumulative 

 cntrainment densities (see Figure 24). 



attributed the sharp decline in variation of abun- 

 dance for older juveniles to a density-dependent 

 regulatory mechanism occurring during and 

 shortly after larval settlement. The coefficients of 

 variation determined for indices of abundance for 

 various life stages of Niantic river winter flounder 

 are shown in Table 19. Although larval and 

 juvenile data were relatively sparse, remarkably 

 similar coefficients were found for nearly all life 

 stages. The only exception was Stage 2 larvae, 

 which had the largest CV, further supporting the 

 notion that compensatory mortality probably oc- 

 curs during this early period of winter flounder 

 life history. 



The models currently under development for 

 MNPS impact assessment will incorporate esti- 

 mates and variability of population parameters, 

 hydrodynamics of the waters in the Millstone 

 area, and elements that realistically mimic larval 

 behavior. Once finalized, the model features or 

 inputs will be updated as soon as more complete 

 data are available. The direction of research in 

 the future will, in many cases, be governed by the 

 need to obtain specific information necessary for 

 the assessments. Sustained monitoring coupled 

 with specific new sampling programs in 1988 and 

 a completed impact assessment model will further 

 lead towards the resolution and quantification of 

 MNPS impact on the winter flounder. 



Winter Flounder Studies 



215 



