LAUSR

To bridge physiological and evolutionary perspectives on size at maturity in fishes, we focus on the approximately invariant ratio between the estimated oxygen supply at size at maturity (Qm ) relative to that at asymptotic size (Q∞ ) among species within a taxonomic group, and show how two important theories related to this phenomenon complement each other. Gill oxygen limitation theory proposes a mechanistic basis for a universal oxygen-supply based threshold for maturation, which applies among and within species. On the other hand, we show that a generalisation of life-history theory for the invariance of size at maturity (Lm ) relative to asymptotic size (L∞ ) can provide an evolutionary rationale for an oxygen-limited maturation threshold (Qm /Q∞ ). Extending previous inter- and intraspecific analyses, we show that maturation invariances also occur in lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis (Mitchill 1818), but at both scales, theory seems to underestimate the value of the maturation threshold. We highlight some key uncertainties in the model that should be addressed to help resolve the mismatch. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.