Growth and ingestion rates of larval fish populations in the coastal waters of Israel

Clupeoid larvae were collected on eight cruises between February 1984 and February 1985 in the coastal waters of Israel. From analysis of daily growth increments of otoliths, growth rates of the abundant clupeoids, Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus and Sardinella aurita were found to be 0.55 mm day−1, 0.67 mm day−1 and 0.60 mm day−1, respectively, during the first month after hatching. Ingestion rates were estimated using an equation from the literature relating ingestion and growth of larval fish. Ingestion calculated for populations of fish larvae in pelagic waters ranged from 0 to >23 mg C m−2 day−1 with maximum rates observed in April. Annual ingestion by larval fish at a pelagic station near Haifa was calculated to be 2.2 g C m−2 year−1, 10–20% of annual primary production estimated from 14C uptake.