Seasonal changes in growth and condition of anchovy late larvae explained with a hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model simulation

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 478:197-209 (2013) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10178 Seasonal changes in growth and condition of anchovy late larvae explained with a hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model simulation Eudoxia Schismenou1,2,*, Kostas Tsiaras3, Maria I. Kourepini2, Eugenia Lefkaditou4, George Triantafyllou3, Stylianos Somarakis1 1Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Thalassokosmos, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece 2Department of Biology, University of Crete, 71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece 3Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Mavro Lithari, 19013 Anavissos, Greece 4Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Aghios Kosmas, 16610 Helliniko, Greece *Email: schismenou@hcmr.gr ABSTRACT: We studied seasonal changes in otolith and somatic growth and condition of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus late larvae (8-55 mm) from the North Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean), hatched during the peak (summer) and end (autumn) of, and also after (winter), the regular anchovy spawning period in the area. Mean growth rate and somatic condition were compared with abiotic and biotic parameters collected in situ (current environment). Additionally, we used the output of a coupled 3D hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model implemented over the broader sampling area to reconstruct the potential conditions that the larvae experienced during their development (environmental history). Growth in length was similar for larvae in summer and autumn (0.80 mm d-1) but significantly lower in winter (0.63 mm d-1). Larval and otolith size at hatching were larger in winter. Otolith microstructure was faint in winter with very narrow increments. Otolith and somatic growth were coupled in autumn and winter, but in summer, when temperature was high, otoliths were significantly larger for the same fish length, age and weight. The biogeochemical model simulation implied that mean plankton productivity was significantly higher during the development of larvae in summer, explaining their higher growth in weight and somatic condition compared to autumn and winter. In situ measured environmental parameters represented a snapshot of ambient conditions at the site and time of sampling and did not adequately explain the seasonal differences in growth and condition. KEY WORDS: Engraulis encrasicolus · Growth · Otolith microstructure · Northeastern Aegean Sea · POM-ERSEM Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Schismenou E, Tsiaras K, Kourepini MI, Lefkaditou E, Triantafyllou G, Somarakis S (2013) Seasonal changes in growth and condition of anchovy late larvae explained with a hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model simulation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 478:197-209. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10178 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 478. Online publication date: March 25, 2013 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2013 Inter-Research.