Formulation of growth and mortality of larval northern anchovy in a turbulent feeding environment

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Abstract
A simple model formalizes present ideas concerning the biological and physical oceanographic processes which may influence growth and survival of larvae of the northern anchovy E. mordax. The model stimulates the distribution of prey in a turbulent water column. Scale analysis is used to deduce the thickness of the food layer which can be maintained in the face of turbulent dissipation and zooplankton grazing pressure. Decrease in growth rate of anchovy larvae as the prey patch erodes results in a higher mortality rate, which is expressed as a function of feeding history of the larvae. Prey patches which increase in concentration enhance larvae survival. The magnitude of vertical turbulent diffusion in the mixed layer is related to wind speed. Its effectiveness in dispersing food for anchovy larval can be altered by any ability of the prey to aggregate into patches.