Variability of key biological parameters of round sardinella Sardinella aurita and the effects of environmental changes
Bocar S. Balde
Fambaye N. Sow
Kamarel Ba
Werner Ekau
Patrice Brehmer
Justin Kantoussan
Massal Fall
Malick Diouf
Abstract
We examined growth rates and reproductive characteristics of Sardinella aurita off Senegal and other coastal areas over a 20 year period (1995–2014) to determine how they relate to variations in environmental characteristics of coastal waters. Based on fish length‐frequency data and a coastal upwelling index, we found that S. aurita recruitment tends to occur during the periods of most intensive upwelling (March–April off Senegal). Peak reproduction corresponds to periods of low sea‐surface temperature (in February or March). The sex ratio was remarkably consistent during the 30 year study period and so was not affected by environmental changes. We hypothesise that S. aurita takes advantage of the higher zooplankton productivity that occurs in coastal waters when upwelling brings nutrient‐rich water to the surface (i.e., it increases its growth rate and accumulates energy reserves for spawning). Growth performance appears to be strongly dependent on environmental conditions. The timing of spawning seems to occur when food (zooplankton) is most available for supplying the energy requirements needed by adults for spawning and early development of larvae. Environmental changes seem to have a significant effect on S. aurita growth and reproduction, which endorses their high phenotypic plasticity.
Balde B.S., Sow F.N., Ba K., Ekau W., Brehmer P., Kantoussan J., Fall M. and Diouf M. (2019) Variability of key biological parameters of round sardinella Sardinella aurita and the effects of environmental changes. Journal of Fish Biology 94(3): 391-401. 10.1111/jfb.13903
@article{Balde2019,
Title = {Variability of key biological parameters of round sardinella Sardinella aurita and the effects of environmental changes},
Author = {Balde, Bocar S. and Sow, Fambaye N. and Ba, Kamarel and Ekau, Werner and Brehmer, Patrice and Kantoussan, Justin and Fall, Massal and Diouf, Malick},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Journal of Fish Biology},
Year = {2019},
Pages = {391-401},
Volume = {94},
Doi = {10.1111/jfb.13903},
Abstract = {We examined growth rates and reproductive characteristics of Sardinella aurita off Senegal and other coastal areas over a 20 year period (1995–2014) to determine how they relate to variations in environmental characteristics of coastal waters. Based on fish length‐frequency data and a coastal upwelling index, we found that S. aurita recruitment tends to occur during the periods of most intensive upwelling (March–April off Senegal). Peak reproduction corresponds to periods of low sea‐surface temperature (in February or March). The sex ratio was remarkably consistent during the 30 year study period and so was not affected by environmental changes. We hypothesise that S. aurita takes advantage of the higher zooplankton productivity that occurs in coastal waters when upwelling brings nutrient‐rich water to the surface (i.e., it increases its growth rate and accumulates energy reserves for spawning). Growth performance appears to be strongly dependent on environmental conditions. The timing of spawning seems to occur when food (zooplankton) is most available for supplying the energy requirements needed by adults for spawning and early development of larvae. Environmental changes seem to have a significant effect on S. aurita growth and reproduction, which endorses their high phenotypic plasticity.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Balde, Bocar S.
AU - Sow, Fambaye N.
AU - Ba, Kamarel
AU - Ekau, Werner
AU - Brehmer, Patrice
AU - Kantoussan, Justin
AU - Fall, Massal
AU - Diouf, Malick
TI - Variability of key biological parameters of round sardinella Sardinella aurita and the effects of environmental changes
T2 - Journal of Fish Biology
PY - 2019
SP - 391-401
VL - 94
DO - 10.1111/jfb.13903
AB - We examined growth rates and reproductive characteristics of Sardinella aurita off Senegal and other coastal areas over a 20 year period (1995–2014) to determine how they relate to variations in environmental characteristics of coastal waters. Based on fish length‐frequency data and a coastal upwelling index, we found that S. aurita recruitment tends to occur during the periods of most intensive upwelling (March–April off Senegal). Peak reproduction corresponds to periods of low sea‐surface temperature (in February or March). The sex ratio was remarkably consistent during the 30 year study period and so was not affected by environmental changes. We hypothesise that S. aurita takes advantage of the higher zooplankton productivity that occurs in coastal waters when upwelling brings nutrient‐rich water to the surface (i.e., it increases its growth rate and accumulates energy reserves for spawning). Growth performance appears to be strongly dependent on environmental conditions. The timing of spawning seems to occur when food (zooplankton) is most available for supplying the energy requirements needed by adults for spawning and early development of larvae. Environmental changes seem to have a significant effect on S. aurita growth and reproduction, which endorses their high phenotypic plasticity.
ER -
