Simple methods to obtain preliminary growth estimates for fishes.

Froese, Rainer and Binohlan, C. (2003) Simple methods to obtain preliminary growth estimates for fishes. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 19 (6). pp. 376-379. DOI 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2003.00490.x.

[thumbnail of j.1439-0426.2003.00490.x.pdf] Text
j.1439-0426.2003.00490.x.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to Registered users only

Download (87kB) | Contact

Supplementary data:

Abstract

Explored were methods to derive preliminary information on growth from other known life history parameters such as maximum size and size and age at first maturity. Use was made of the fact that with asymptotic length known, only one point is needed to determine the general shape of a von Bertalanffy growth curve. An empirical relationship was used to predict asymptotic length from maximum observed length. We used mean size reached at age 1 or 2 or mean age and size at first maturity, as is often provided in the literature, to derive preliminary von Bertalanffy growth curves. Results of this approach were then compared with published growth estimates. We used an empirical relationship to predict length at first maturity from asymptotic length when only the age at first maturity was given in the literature. Temperate fishes usually have restricted spawning periods lasting a few months per year and maturity is typically reached in the first, second, third, or later year, i.e. in steps of 12 months, with larger species maturing later. We used data in FishBase (http://www.fishbase.org) to establish typical ranges for age at first maturity and growth performance of temperate fishes as a function of maximum size. We present an approach that uses this framework to derive preliminary growth estimates for species of which only the maximum size is known.

Document Type: Article
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB3 Marine Ecology > FB3-EV Marine Evolutionary Ecology
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Wiley
Date Deposited: 18 Feb 2008 17:26
Last Modified: 03 Jul 2017 08:02
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/7789

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item