Effect of Temperature on the Daily Increment Deposition in the Otoliths of European Sardine Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) Larvae

Otolith microstructure analysis is a valuable tool to evaluate the relationship between larval age and growth how it relates environmental variability. daily increment deposition were analyzed in sardine (Sardina pilchardus) larvae reared laboratory under different temperatures (13, 15, 17 °C), with diet rich microalgae, rotifers, copepods Acartia grani. The number width of increments, first-check otolith diameter determined otoliths then related total length. At hatching, sagittal consisted lenticular core 10.56 μm (±1.07 SD). Somatic increased increasing temperature rate at 13 15 °C was significantly lower than for °C. °C, exhibited higher wider increments There high variability counts-at-age within same treatment. increase size until 35 days post-hatching those growing Scanning electronic microscopy confirmed that are deposited daily, an average smaller 1 µm as low 0.33 μm, therefore impossible distinguish using light microscopy. colder temperatures, had thinner less marked rates, which can lead incorrect determinations. effect on help identifying strong gradients experienced by wild larvae.