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Evaluation of Condition Indices for Estimation of Growth of Largemouth Bass and White Crappie
Author(s) -
Gutreuter Steve,
Childress W. Michael
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1990)010<0434:eocife>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - micropterus , bass (fish) , growth model , mathematics , statistics , fishery , electrofishing , growth rate , zoology , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , mathematical economics , geometry
We evaluated the ability of three condition indices‐condition factor ( K ), relative condition ( K n ), and relative weight ( W r )–to estimate annual growth rates of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and white crappies Pomoxis annularis collected during standardized autumn electrofishing and trap‐net surveys of Texas reservoirs. Multiple‐regression models for estimation of length increments from initial length (at the start of the growing season) and condition indices had R 2 values of 0.63–0.76 for largemouth bass and 0.46–0.83 for white crappie. However, these models are not useful for indirect estimation ofgrowth rates because growth must be known (initial length equals length at capture minus estimated annual growth). Models based on length at capture and condition indices had R 2 values of 0.22–0.68 for largemouth bass and less than 0.45 for white crappie. The low precision of models based on length at capture indicates that condition provides a weak basis for indirect estimation of growth rates from Texas reservoirs sampled during autumn and, therefore, is unreliable for detection of size‐related growth phenomena such as “stockpiling” (size specific, density‐dependent growth depression). Direct estimates of growth rates based on back‐calculations or tagging data seem necessary for reliable detection of size‐related growth patterns for largemouth bass and white crappies from Texas reservoirs.