engleski

Growth of sprat Sprattus sprattus larvae in the North Adriatic as inferred by otolith microstructure

The purpose of this work was to analyse and estimate the growth characteristics of sprat larvae from the North Adriatic for the first time as inferred from otolith daily growth increments. Sprat larvae were collected from th eNorth Adriatic inJAnuary 1996. They were aged using daily growth incremets in sagittal otoliths. Age at length of larvae was estimated by common non-linear growth equations. The data presented are consistent with the deposition of one complete increment per 24 h period. There was some evidence that daily growth increments are deposited on the otoliths of sprat larvae only after the onset of exogenous feeding. Integrated somatic growth was 0.398 mm d-1. This value is comparable to others obtained for similar pelagic clupeoid species. Sprat growth and development rates could be determined by analysis of otolith increments and growth parameters should be estimated for every particular survey when the data on age of larvae are needed.

sprat; otolith; daily increments; age; growth; North Adriatic

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