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 341:217-228 (2007) - doi:10.3354/meps341217 Depth-dependent nutritional condition of sprat Sprattus sprattus larvae in the central Bornholm Basin, Baltic Sea Andreas Dänhardt1,3,*, Myron A. Peck1, Catriona Clemmesen2, Axel Temming1 1Institute of Marine Ecosystems and Fisheries Science, University of Hamburg, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany 2Leibniz-Institute of Marine Sciences at Kiel University (IFM-GEOMAR), Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany 3Present address: Institute of Avian Research, c/o Research Center Terramare, Schleusenstrasse 1, 26382 Wilhelmshaven, Germany *Email: andreas@daenhardt.com ABSTRACT: Bimodal depth distribution patterns observed for sprat Sprattus sprattus larvae in previous field studies conducted in the deep basins of the Baltic Sea have led researchers to hypothesise that larval sprat condition was depth-dependent. We examined this hypothesis by measuring morphological, biochemical and otolith-based proxies for nutritional condition in sprat larvae collected in discrete 5 m depth intervals from the surface to the bottom in the central Bornholm Basin. Similar to earlier studies, larval sprat were most abundant in 2 depth strata (0 to 10 and 65 to 75 m). Their nutritional condition in surface and deep waters was not uniformly expressed by the different indices. For example, sprat larvae from 0 to 10 m could not be distinguished from conspecifics caught at 65 to 75 m by a long-latency condition proxy (otolith-based growth rates). Similarly, a medium-latency proxy (RNA:DNA) did not suggest differences in condition between the depths. However, short-latency proxies (protein:standard length and DNA:dry weight) supported the depth-dependent condition hypothesis. The lack of correspondence and pitfalls associated with the use and interpretation of multiple condition indices (e.g. the influences of temperature and body size) are discussed and recommendations to strengthen these various metrics are provided. KEY WORDS: Sprattus sprattus · Larvae · Baltic · Survival · Growth · Condition · RNA:DNA · Protein Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 341. Online publication date: July 04, 2007 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2007 Inter-Research.