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Dominance hierarchy formation in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.): nutrient digestibility of subordinate and dominant fish
Author(s) -
Olsen R. E.,
Ringø E.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2109.1999.00374.x
Subject(s) - salvelinus , biology , nutrient , arctic , arctic char , dominance (genetics) , zoology , ecology , dominance hierarchy , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , trout , aggression , biochemistry , psychology , psychiatry , gene
Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.) were individually tagged and maintained in circular tanks for 102 days in order to allow the development of dominance hierarchies. At the end of the trial period, the charr were anaesthetized in benzocaine and identified as dominant, beta (β) and subordinate according to a set of established criteria including size, coloration and bite marks. The gut contents were then collected and analysed for apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients using the chromic oxide method. Subordinate fish had significantly lower specific growth rates and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients of both dry matter and lipid compared with dominant fish. Although specific growth rate was significantly lower in the β fish compared with dominant charr, this did not influence the apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients to any major extent.