Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability

We studied the abundance, size and growth rates of Engraulis anchoita larvae during the end of the species’ spawning season in relation to environmental variables. Two sampling transects, one in Península Valdés (northern transect: NT) and the other in Isla Escondida (southern transect: ST), with fo...

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Publicado: 2018
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Acceso en línea:https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto
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spelling paper:paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto2023-06-08T15:15:04Z Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability Anchovy Growth Ichthyoplankton Tidal front Zooplankton We studied the abundance, size and growth rates of Engraulis anchoita larvae during the end of the species’ spawning season in relation to environmental variables. Two sampling transects, one in Península Valdés (northern transect: NT) and the other in Isla Escondida (southern transect: ST), with four stations each, were established in late summer. Both locations are characterized by high concentrations of E. anchoita larvae in spring, strongly associated with the presence of frontal waters, at the beginning of the species’ spawning season. Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton were sampled, and temperature profiles and chlorophyll-a satellite images were analyzed for each sampling station. Zooplankton samples were divided in size fractions, and composition and abundances were estimated. Standard length (SL), ontogenetic stages, and abundance (including eggs) were estimated. Additionally, age and growth rates were determined by otolith analysis. Two different scenarios were observed in both transects. In the NT, a frontal structure was found, while at the ST, the water column was completely homogeneous. Total zooplankton abundance was maximum at frontal waters, with 22,195 ind. m−3, being the small size fraction (<200 μm) the most abundant, mainly composed of nauplii (9000 ind. m−3) and cyclopoid copepodites (4000 ind. m−3). The NT showed higher abundance (mean of 126.5 ind. m−2 per station in NT; 29.75 ind. m−2 in ST), faster growth rates of E. anchoita larvae (NT: 0.45 ± 0.04 mm day−1; ST: 0.34 ± 0.09 mm day−1; n = 90), and higher mean SL at frontal waters (7.57 ± 1.52 mm SL) than the ST. In the NT, E. anchoita growth rates were constant in time, whereas in the ST, they decreased with age. Our results support the classical theory, which states that frontal waters provide advantageous environmental conditions for fish larvae feeding, growth and, thus, survival. © 2018 Elsevier B.V. 2018 https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto
institution Universidad de Buenos Aires
institution_str I-28
repository_str R-134
collection Biblioteca Digital - Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales (UBA)
topic Anchovy
Growth
Ichthyoplankton
Tidal front
Zooplankton
spellingShingle Anchovy
Growth
Ichthyoplankton
Tidal front
Zooplankton
Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
topic_facet Anchovy
Growth
Ichthyoplankton
Tidal front
Zooplankton
description We studied the abundance, size and growth rates of Engraulis anchoita larvae during the end of the species’ spawning season in relation to environmental variables. Two sampling transects, one in Península Valdés (northern transect: NT) and the other in Isla Escondida (southern transect: ST), with four stations each, were established in late summer. Both locations are characterized by high concentrations of E. anchoita larvae in spring, strongly associated with the presence of frontal waters, at the beginning of the species’ spawning season. Zooplankton and ichthyoplankton were sampled, and temperature profiles and chlorophyll-a satellite images were analyzed for each sampling station. Zooplankton samples were divided in size fractions, and composition and abundances were estimated. Standard length (SL), ontogenetic stages, and abundance (including eggs) were estimated. Additionally, age and growth rates were determined by otolith analysis. Two different scenarios were observed in both transects. In the NT, a frontal structure was found, while at the ST, the water column was completely homogeneous. Total zooplankton abundance was maximum at frontal waters, with 22,195 ind. m−3, being the small size fraction (<200 μm) the most abundant, mainly composed of nauplii (9000 ind. m−3) and cyclopoid copepodites (4000 ind. m−3). The NT showed higher abundance (mean of 126.5 ind. m−2 per station in NT; 29.75 ind. m−2 in ST), faster growth rates of E. anchoita larvae (NT: 0.45 ± 0.04 mm day−1; ST: 0.34 ± 0.09 mm day−1; n = 90), and higher mean SL at frontal waters (7.57 ± 1.52 mm SL) than the ST. In the NT, E. anchoita growth rates were constant in time, whereas in the ST, they decreased with age. Our results support the classical theory, which states that frontal waters provide advantageous environmental conditions for fish larvae feeding, growth and, thus, survival. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
title Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
title_short Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
title_full Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
title_fullStr Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
title_full_unstemmed Benefits of frontal waters for the growth of Engraulis anchoita larvae: The influence of food availability
title_sort benefits of frontal waters for the growth of engraulis anchoita larvae: the influence of food availability
publishDate 2018
url https://bibliotecadigital.exactas.uba.ar/collection/paper/document/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_01657836_v204_n_p181_DoSouto
_version_ 1768544220297035776