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JPR Advance Access published online on February 13, 2006
Journal of Plankton Research, doi:10.1093/plankt/fbi137
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received August 4, 2005
Accepted February 7, 2006

Article

Vertical distribution of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) larvae and its implications for their survival

A. Miguel P. Santos 1 *, Pedro Ré 2, Antonina dos Santos 1, and Álvaro Peliz 3

1 Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas-IPIMAR, Av. Brasília s/n, 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal
2 Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Est. do Guincho, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
3 Departamento Física-Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Univ. Aveiro, 3810-194 Aveiro, Portugal

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
A. Miguel P. Santos, E-mail: amsantos{at}ipimar.pt


  Abstract

This study presents results of the vertical behaviour of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) larvae as observed at sea off the northwestern Iberian coast during an oceanographic cruise conducted in May 2002. Samples were taken in a grid of 38 stations (CTD measurements and LHPR plankton hauls); a 69-hour fixed station study was also performed (hourly CTD measurements and LHPR/neuston hauls every two hours). The horizontal distribution of larvae is closely related to the circulation patterns measured by a current meter-mooring array deployed during the cruise. Larvae were mainly distributed in the upper 20-25 m of the water column, in evident association with the waters of the Western Iberia Buoyant Plume (WIBP). Large (older) larvae are found mainly in the surface layers and larval size decreases with depth. A diel rhythm of migration to the neuston layer was observed, correlated with the inflation/deflation activity of the swim bladder. Larvae with lengths greater than 12.5 mm and inflated swim bladders were only found in this layer. Considering the near surface stratification conditions for food availability and Ekman transport in the upper few meters, even small vertical migrations of larvae can be very important for their survival and subsequent recruitment success.

Communicating Editor: KJ Flynn

This paper was presented at Plankton Symposium III, held at Figuera da Foz, Portugal between 17 and 20 March 2005, under the auspices of the University of Coimbra and the University of Aveiro, and coordinated by Mário Jorge Pereira and Ulisses M. Azeiteiro.


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