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Estimation of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Lacépède, growth using the liver somatic index and physiological variables *
Author(s) -
Adams S. M.,
McLean R. B.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04248.x
Subject(s) - micropterus , biology , bass (fish) , thermocline , stepwise regression , fishery , regression analysis , ecology , statistics , mathematics
Stepwise regression models utilizing five easily‐measured condition indices, two physiological variables and two environmental variables were developed for estimating the monthly growth of age‐I and II largemouth bass sampled during 1980 and 1982. The liver‐somatic index (LSI) and standard metabolism at surface and thermocline temperatures were the most significant variables for estimating growth. Determination of monthly growth using the LSI requires 50% fewer samples than the usual method of following changes in monthly mean weight. Because the LSI responds relatively rapidly to levels of energy intake and temperature, this index can be used to signal possible adverse effects on fish before changes in growth can be observed. This approach could be a useful management tool because, once validated for a particular aquatic system, frequent cost‐effective growth estimates could be used to identify the presence of ecological perturbations and to quantify their effect.