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Links between parasitism, energy reserves and fecundity of European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

The European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus L. 1758, is one of the most sought-after target species in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. However, this stock currently consists of small individuals, and landings are reported to have decreased considerably. The main purpose of this study was to assess, for the first time, the interrelationships between size, fecundity, energy reserves and parasitism in female anchovies, in order to analyse the potential implications for the health of northwestern Mediterranean anchovy stocks arising from the current shortage of large individuals. Results revealed that smaller individuals show lower fecundity, lower lipid content and a higher intensity of certain parasites. As it is known that smaller individuals now predominate in the population, the relationships found in this study indicate that the health of anchovies from the northwestern Mediterranean is currently impaired

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (research project ref. CTM2009-08602). D.F.-M. benefited from a Formación de Personal Investigador predoctoral fellowship (ref. BES-2010-032618) and J.L. benefited from a ‘Ramón y Cajal’ research contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness

Oxford University Press

Manager: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Espanya)
Author: Ferrer Maza, Dolors
Lloret Romañach, Josep
Muñoz Frigola, Marta
Faliex, Elisabeth
Vila Espuña, Sílvia
Sasal, Pierre
Date: 2018 June 5
Abstract: The European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus L. 1758, is one of the most sought-after target species in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. However, this stock currently consists of small individuals, and landings are reported to have decreased considerably. The main purpose of this study was to assess, for the first time, the interrelationships between size, fecundity, energy reserves and parasitism in female anchovies, in order to analyse the potential implications for the health of northwestern Mediterranean anchovy stocks arising from the current shortage of large individuals. Results revealed that smaller individuals show lower fecundity, lower lipid content and a higher intensity of certain parasites. As it is known that smaller individuals now predominate in the population, the relationships found in this study indicate that the health of anchovies from the northwestern Mediterranean is currently impaired
This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (research project ref. CTM2009-08602). D.F.-M. benefited from a Formación de Personal Investigador predoctoral fellowship (ref. BES-2010-032618) and J.L. benefited from a ‘Ramón y Cajal’ research contract from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/2072/320940
Language: eng
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Rights: Attribution 3.0 Spain
Rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/
Subject: Parasitisme
Parasitism
Anxoves -- Fecunditat
Anchovies -- Fertility
Title: Links between parasitism, energy reserves and fecundity of European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: Recercat

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