Abstract
The European anchovy is an important fishing resource in the Sicilian Channel that supports a high recruitment success variability. The presence of two spawning areas, the drifting of the larvae along the currents and the different oceanographic conditions within the region suggest the presence of different larvae subpopulations. Morphometric and biochemical approaches have been used to analyze the differences among larvae collected. The amino acid composition discriminates two larval groups closely related to the spawning regions: Adventure Bank and the shelf between the South of Sicily and Malta. In addition, there are morphometric and growth differences between recently hatched larvae in these two regions, reinforcing the hypothesis of two larval subpopulations and suggesting differences in the parental reproduction effort. Between the South of Sicily and Malta there are growth and biochemical composition differences since larvae from the Maltese coast present a higher protein content and a bigger growth rate than those from Sicily, pointing out that Malta is an area with a better nutritional condition environment. No differences in the growth rate have been observed between the Adventure Bank area and the Maltese shelf, therefore, a diverse nutritional condition cannot be suggested between these two areas despite the Maltese larvae having a higher protein content present.
Subject
Water Science and Technology,Aquatic Science,Geography, Planning and Development,Biochemistry
Reference84 articles.
1. Review of the state of world marine Fishery resources,2011
2. Assessment of Mediterranean Stocks Part I,2010
3. Factors structuring reproductive habitat suitability of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the south coast of Sicily;Cuttitta;J. Fish Biol.,2006
4. Sustainable exploitation of small pelagic fish stocks challenged by environmental and ecosystem changes;Fréon;Bull. Mar. Sci.,2005
5. Climate, oceanography, and recruitment: the case of the Bay of Biscay anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献