This study aims at (1) experimentally estimating first sexual maturation of the European sardine S. pilchardus, (2) using the results to calibrate existing bioenergetic models. During the 183 days-experiment, fish growth and body condition were assessed by biometry, and gonads were weighed when present. Age, wet weight and total length at first maturity were estimated at 262 days, 10.79 ± 0.75 g, and 11.26 ± 0.21 cm, respectively. Including these traits in biphasic Von Bertalanffy models did not significantly improve simulations for either length or weight data, meaning that energy allocation was not impacted by these traits. The implementation of the results in the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) calibration procedure strengthened the parameter set of the existing model, but resulted in significant changes in the energy allocation. Our results are a first step that will allow the design of new experiments to further quantify maturation and reproduction rates in diverse environmental conditions, consolidating DEB model calibration.

这项研究旨在（1）通过实验估算欧洲沙丁鱼S. pilchardus的首次性成熟，（2）使用结果来校准现有的生物能模型。在183天的实验过程中，通过生物测定法评估了鱼类的生长和身体状况，并称量了性腺。首次成熟时的年龄，湿重和总长度分别为262天，10.79±0.75 g和11.26±0.21 cm。在双相Von Bertalanffy模型中包括这些特征并不能显着改善长度或重量数据的模拟，这意味着能量分配不受这些特征的影响。动态能量预算（DEB）校准程序中结果的实施增强了现有模型的参数集，但导致能量分配发生了重大变化。