3.0 RESULTS
A total of 3,488 individuals were sampled and measured for length,
weight, gonad maturation, and fecundity over the study period (Table 1).
Infected individuals had an overall lower fecundity than non-infected
individuals (glmmPQL, estimate = -1.08 ± 0.08, d.f. = 3416, t=-13.92,P < 0.001; Figure 2).
Reproductive investment at maturity (stage IV) in non-infected E.
sardella increased significantly over time between 2005 and 2013 and
then in 2015 (glm, estimate = 0.14 ± 0.01, d.f. = 1, t = 9.59, P< 0.001; Figure 3).
The body length of non-infected E. sardella at stage IV
(maturity) did not decrease over time (Fig. 3). If anything, it seemed
to increase significantly, albeit very slightly (lm, estimate = 0.43 ±
0.05, d.f. = 1, t = 8.42, P < 0.001). On the contrary,
body length at stage V (post-maturity) decreased significantly over time
(lm, estimate = -1.27 ± 0.06, d.f. = 1, t = -21.12, P <
0.001; Figure 4).