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Allometric growth and condition factor of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) fed to satiation: effects of temperature and body weight
Author(s) -
Árnason T.,
Björnsson B.,
Steinarsson A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01259.x
Subject(s) - gadus , allometry , atlantic cod , biology , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , body weight , fishery , ecology , endocrinology
Summary The effect of thermal environment on condition factor was examined for six different size‐classes of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua fed to satiation. A weight–length relationship for 8 to 1303 g fish reared at 4–20°C indicated an allometric growth ( W = aL b , a = 0.0045, b = 3.257) of cod. Changes in relative condition factor ( K rel ) with temperature were described with a second order polynomial. The most pronounced effect of temperature on body condition was found in the smallest size‐classes, but the curves flattened with increased size. Temperature had size‐dependent effects on the relative condition factor obtained from an overall weight–length relationship for all fish in the experiment, i.e. K rel increased with weight at 4°C, but decreased with weight at 16 and 20°C. K rel remained high for most size‐classes at 8 and 12°C. The slopes ( b ‐values) of the weight–length relationships decreased linearly with temperatures from 4 to 16°C.