Open AccessReporting Fish Growth: A Review of the Basics 1
Author(s) -
Hopkins Kevin D.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of the world aquaculture society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.655
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1749-7345
pISSN - 0893-8849
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-7345.1992.tb00766.x
Subject(s) - biology , exponential growth , linear growth , growth rate , representation (politics) , fish <actinopterygii> , set (abstract data type) , exponential function , growth curve (statistics) , computation , basis (linear algebra) , data set , statistics , mathematics , econometrics , computer science , algorithm , fishery , mathematical analysis , geometry , programming language , politics , political science , law
Aquaculturists typically report growth using absolute (g/d), relative (% increase in body weight), and specific growth rates (%d). Less frequently, von Bertalanffy Growth Functions (VBGF) are used. Each of these rates is a numerical representation of growth which assumes a specific relationship between size and time (linear, exponential, or asymptotic). Aquaculturists typically determine size at time throughout their experiments. Unfortunately, the intermediate data points are usually ignored when computing growth rates (except for VBGF) and the appropriateness of the method for calculating growth for a particular data set is not tested. This paper reviews the basis and computation of each of the growth rates in an effort to encourage aquaculturists to use the appropriate growth rates.