Using head, pectoral girdle bones and otoliths to estimate length and weight of Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), a key species in Patagonian marine ecosystem

Abstract

The Argentine anchovy, Engraulis anchoita, plays a vital role as a key prey species for several marine predators in the north Patagonian marine ecosystem of the Atlantic Ocean. Reconstructing the length and weight of each consumed specimen is essential to provide a detailed description of the trophic ecology of top marine predators. Predictive linear regression equations were calculated for the Patagonian stock of Argentine anchovy to estimate parameters of length-weight relationships using measurements of whole individuals and diagnostic elements such as otoliths, head bones and pectoral fin bones. Among the diagnostic elements analyzed, the cleithrum and dentary exhibited the best fit. This study validates the use of head and pectoral girdle bones as reliable indicators for predicting the weight and length of Argentine anchovy across a wide size range, which corresponds to the target range of various predators. These relationships can contribute to the determination of body condition, estimation of consumed biomass, and calculation of energy density, providing valuable insights into the trophic ecology of predators in the southern Atlantic Ocean.