Growth and mortality of larval anchoveta Engraulis ringens, in northern Chile during winter and their relationship with coastal hydrographic conditions

• DOI: 10.1111/fog.12219
• Publication Date: 2017-05-05T02:16:43Z
• Authors: Jorge E. Contreras; Camilo Rodriguez‐...; Mauricio F. Landaeta; Guido Plaza; Manuel I. Castillo; Mónica Alvarado‐Niño
• Keywords: Engraulis; Sagitta

Abstract Larval growth, age, growth effect and instantaneous mortality were estimated in anchoveta, Engraulis ringens , collected biweekly during the austral winter of 2014 nearshore waters off Bay Antofagasta (23°41′W–70°30′S), northern Chile. Through measuring standard length ( SL ) sagitta microstructure analysis, it was that rate E. larvae decreased from June (0.85 mm day −1 to August (0.50 ). However, water temperature homogeneous sampling dates (14.6, 15.2, 14.4, 14.6°C), suggesting decelerating larval not linked changes sea temperature. Additionally, with slow have larger otoliths compared conspecifics fast (growth effect). rates tended decrease until middle July (0.18 per day) but increased 0.25 early August, which coincided lower food availability (i.e., chlorophyll‐a, 2.7–5.6 mg m −3 a high occurrence smaller (1.58–11.5 mm). Partial least squares analysis indicates low covariance between biological oceanographic variables PLS : 11.71%), other factors, such as parental effects, may explain abrupt rates.