Growth rates in a European eel Anguilla anguilla (L., 1758) population show a complex relationship with temperature over a seven-decade otolith biochronology

Environmental and habitat change can have profound and complex impacts on fish. We examined an unexploited population of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) from a West of Ireland catchment. The population is long-lived and slow-growing compared to many other European eel populations. Von Bertalanffy growth curves showed decadal changes, with a trend towards larger K, and t(0) values in both males and females and a smaller L-infinity in females. A growth biochronology spanning seven decades (1950s-2010s) was constructed using otolith annual increment measurements. We found evidence of high variability in growth over the course of the time series. A decrease in growth occurred after the early 2000s, potentially driven by habitat and climatic changes. Growth was negatively correlated with early spring and winter temperatures, providing strong evidence that the length of the growing season impacts eel growth. Growth was also positively correlated with summer temperatures and the number of days that exceeded 16 degrees C (GSL16 degrees C). The response to temperature was age-dependent; at age one the positive relationship with GSL16 degrees C was most pronounced and the negative relationship with winter temperatures was not evident. This study demonstrates the impact of climate change and highlights the complexities of eel growth strategies in a changing environment.

Automated summary

The study investigated an unexploited population of European eel in a West of Ireland catchment and found high variability in growth over the past several decades, potentially influenced by habitat and climatic changes. The research also demonstrated that eel growth is strongly impacted by seasonal temperatures, with the length of the growing season playing a significant role.