Report on body condition

Body condition is a proxy of the quantity of energy stored and is dependent on food supply and energy allocation strategies. Population reproductive potential, growth and survival (i.e. natural mortality) can be affected by body condition. European sardine is a winter spawner with a capital breeding strategy, it spawns and feed in separate areas, during different seasons by storing energy and utilizing it later for reproduction. It acquires and stores energy in spring and summer to be used in the reproductive period. Instead, anchovy spawns in spring and summer using the current energy income for reproduction, and is considered to have an income breeding strategy, this is using energy acquired locally and allocating energy directly to reproduction. [...]