Hump‐shaped relationship between aggregation tendency and body size within fish populations

A distribution with high spatial variability may impair the bet-hedging capacity of a population, threatening population sustainability. Although association between aggregation and life history traits species (e.g. body size) has been documented, relationship size within rarely explored. As selective over-fishing induce truncation in targeted stocks, it is critical to understand if such also undermines patterns population. In this study, we examined how ‘aggregation tendency' varies among different classes Aggregation tendency was quantified as exponent b Taylor's power law (V = × Mb), which measures change variance (V) mean abundance (M) We estimated by class for each nine commercially important fish North Sea, using ICES survey data from 1991 2015. Our study found that hump-shaped, peak slightly larger than 50% mature length species. This result indicates adults tend distribute less heterogeneously when increases, suggesting play role reducing distribution. findings highlight importance considering combined effects fishing-induced changes fishery management. That is, maintaining structure target stocks fisheries sustainability populations.