Growth rates of early life stages of Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus in the Adriatic Sea (Italy).

Early life stages of anchovy and sardine were collected in the Adriatic Sea during three seasonal surveys carried out between June 2007 and February 2008. Growth rates were estimated by daily increment counts on sagittal otoliths. Age estimates were made on late-larvae specimens, just before the transition from larval to juvenile stage. Growth of these vulnerable stages may be an important factor affecting recruitment success.