Biogeographical snapshot of life-history traits of European silver eels: insights from otolith microchemistry

Life-history traits of eels display a high level of phenotypic plasticity in response to large-scale biogeographical drivers, as well as local conditions encountered during the continental phase. Here, we provided a biogeographical snapshot of the variability of life-history traits of eels (Anguilla anguilla), across a large proportion of their natural distribution range. Silver eels (n = 99) were collected across eleven European catchments to investigate how life-history traits vary along geographical and saline habitats, as it was inferred from the Sr:Ca ratio in otoliths. Among 13 life-history traits tested, 3 of them such as total length, body or liver weight were related to geographical coordinates. Overall, eels grow faster in southern Europe and migrate earlier suggesting that the silvering process is related to the local growth conditions more than fish age. The salinity profiles revealed by the otoliths' Sr:Ca ratios indicate that eels with a brackish life-history generally grow faster, reach larger size-at-age, and have a better condition than eels living in freshwater. This observation associated with the lower abundance of the sanguivorous swimbladder nematode, Anguillicola crassus, confirms the importance of brackish areas for sustaining the eel production. A large proportion of the observed variation of life-history traits remained unexplained by the biogeographical trends and salinity condition, which suggests that other drivers act at the catchment scale.

Automated summary

Eels exhibit a high level of phenotypic plasticity in response to biogeographical drivers and local conditions. This study provides a biogeographical snapshot of eel life-history traits, showing geographical and salinity variations. Eels grow faster and migrate earlier in southern Europe, suggesting local growth conditions play a larger role in silvering process than fish age. Eels with a brackish life-history grow faster, reach larger size-at-age, and have better condition, indicating the importance of brackish areas for eel production. However, a large proportion of the variation in life-history traits remains unexplained, implying other drivers at the catchment scale.