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Mass‐effect: Understanding the relationship between age and otolith weight in fishes
Author(s) -
Pacheco Carlos,
Bustamante Carlos,
Araya Miguel
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
fish and fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.747
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1467-2979
pISSN - 1467-2960
DOI - 10.1111/faf.12542
Subject(s) - otolith , moderation , fish <actinopterygii> , positive correlation , correlation , biology , correlation coefficient , positive relationship , random effects model , fishery , meta analysis , statistics , zoology , demography , mathematics , medicine , psychology , geometry , sociology , social psychology
The estimation of age on a fish by using the otolith weight is a quick and low‐cost technique, yet controversial despite separate researchers worldwide have proved successfully its application. A systematic review was conducted including 47 publications containing 289 data points where the relationship between the age and otolith weight was assessed. Here, a meta‐analysis of the age and otolith weight relationship at a global level is provided. A random effect model was used to estimate the effect size (Pearson's correlation coefficient) of each study as well as the overall effect size. A strong effect in age–otolith weight relationship was detected with an overall effect size of r = 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91 to 0.94) and a high observed heterogeneity ( Q T = 8,107.63, df = 288, p < .001; I 2 = 96.62%). Four significant moderator variables were identified (families, habitats, models and regions) where heterogeneity was large (≥90%) while the families were the best moderator according to AIC criteria ( Q M = 378.12, df = 28, p < .0001; I 2 = 89.97%). Overall results suggest that otolith weight has a positive effect correlation over the age estimation of fish.