Growth and condition of sprat ( Sprattus sprattus ) larvae inferred from otolith microstructure analysis and RNA/DNA ratio in the Bornholm Basin (Central Baltic Sea) during spawning season 2001

TL;DRAbstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the growth and condition of sprat (Sprattus sprattus) larvae as survival characteristics in relation to environmental changes during spawning season 2001. Spatial and temporal variability in growth and condition were inferred from otolith microstructures, RNA/DNA ratio and an individual-based model. The variation in growth and condition were presented both on population and individual levels. Based on the estimated-age and length relationship, somatic growth in sprat larvae was higher in May than in April. With respect to May, horizontal variability in somatic growth was found on 6 subareas in the Bornholm Basin. There was a trend that the larvae encountered in the northern part of the basin experienced a higher somatic growth in comparison with the central and the southern regions. Within the vertical environment, the growth of sprat larvae tended to be higher at the upper layer than at the lower layer. Sprat larvae were largely in good during t

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