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Length–Weight Relationships for Short‐Finned Squid in Newfoundland and the Effect of Diet on Condition and Growth
Author(s) -
Dawe Earl G.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1988)117<0591:lrfssi>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - cannibalism , predation , squid , biology , abundance (ecology) , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , crustacean , zoology , ecology
Relationships of growth in weight to mantle length were examined for short‐finned squid Illex illecebrosus collected near Holyrood, Newfoundland, from 1964 to 1985. For lengths typically encountered in the commercial fishery, males generally were significantly heavier than females at a given length. Fish appeared to be the most suitable prey type for promoting growth of inshore short‐finned squid, whereas crustaceans appeared to be the least suitable prey type in that respect. Relatively high weight at length during July in years of high short‐finned squid abundance was related to a high level of predation on fish. Seasonal change in condition was also directly related to prominence offish in the diet. Incidence of cannibalism increased dramatically after July in years of high short‐finned squid abundance as predation on fish declined sharply. In contrast, there were no seasonal changes in the diet during years of low abundance. In such years, the diet was mixed throughout the season and cannibalism remained at relatively low levels.