Evaluation of growth rate differences in populations of sardina pilchardus (walbaum, 1792) (clupeidae) from the Aegean and Ionian seas  <B>Evaluation of growth rate differences in populations of sardina pilchardus (walbaum, 1792) (clupeidae) from the Aegean and Ionian seas</B><P></B><B>George TSERPES (1) and Nikos TSIMENIDES (2)</B><I><P> (1) Institute of Marine Biology of Crete, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Iraklion, GREECE.<BR> (2) University of Crete, Department of Biology, Iraklion, GREECE.</I><B><P> ABSTRACT</B>. - <I>Sardina pilchardus </I>populations from the Aegean and Ionian seas have been examined for differences in growth rate using the statistical test described by Kappenman (1981). Results suggest that growth in both populations can be described by the same von Bertalanffy growth curve. Further studies of the spawning populations are needed to explain the one year difference observed in recruitment time between these populations, and to clarify whether they constitute different stocks.<B><P> RESUME</B> - Le test statistique decrit par Kappenman (1981) a ete utilise pour etudier les differences entre les taux de croissance des populations de <I>Sardina pilchardus </I>des mers Egee et lonienne. Les resultats mettent en evidence que la croissance de ces deux populations peut etre decrite par la meme courbe de von Bertatanffy. Des etudes ulterieures sur la reproduction seraient necessaires pour expliquer la difference d'un an au niveau du recrutement des deux populations et pour savoir s'il s'agit de deux stocks differents.<B><P> Key words.</B> - Clupeidae, <I>Sardina pilchardus, </I>MED, Aegean sea, Ionian sea, Growth rate.<I><P> Cybium 1991, 15(1): 15-22,</I><B></B><P>