Ecology of Sardina pilchardus
 
Main Ref. Whitehead, P.J.P., 1985
Remarks Undergoes diel vertical migration, going deeper during the day and rising near the surface at night. Littoral species (Ref. 6808). Spawn in the open sea or near the coast, producing 50,000-60,000 eggs with a diameter of 1.5 mm (Ref. 35388). Forms schools, usually at depths of 25 to 55 or even 100 m by day, rising to 10 to 35 m at night. Feeds mainly on planktonic crustaceans, also on larger organisms. Stomach fullness and color indices were used to determine feeding intensity and food quality of juveniles and adult sardines (Ref. 55906).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Sardina pilchardus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations schooling;
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Costalago, D. and I. Palomera, 2014
Feeding habit selective plankton feeding
Feeding habit Ref. Whitehead, P.J.P., 1985
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 3.06 0.10 3.04 0.15 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items 2.94 0.21 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Sever, T.M., B. Bayhan and E. Taskavak, 2005
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. cnidaria)
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