Seasonal comparison of anchovy larvae nutritional condition at the Estación Permanente de Estudios Ambientales (EPEA). 2008-2011 period

Abstract

A study on the seasonal variation of Engraulis anchoita larvae nutritional condition was performed. The material employed was collected at the Estación Permanente de Estudios Ambientales (EPEA) during the 2008-2011 period. In order to determine the morphological differences among individuals, the six morphometric variables measured for each larvae were analyzed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Water temperature and salinity and density of the different ichthyoplankton components were also registered. The PCA revealed a larger larvae body width in Spring, which would indicate an improvement of nutritional condition during that season. Mean abundance of eggs and larvae, higher in spring, was significantly lower than that recorded at the EPEA in previous studies. The moderate larvae density observed during the study period was related to a high availability of potential preys that would reduce intra-specific competition for food and explain the better larval condition at the EPEA.