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Relative Length Frequency: A Simple, Visual Technique to Evaluate Size Structure in Fish Populations
Author(s) -
Bonar Scott A.
Publication year - 2002
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(2002)022<1086:rlfasv>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - electrofishing , micropterus , bass (fish) , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , relative species abundance , relative growth rate , frequency , efficiency , limiting , biology , statistics , environmental science , mathematics , growth rate , abundance (ecology) , geometry , mechanical engineering , estimator , engineering
I developed a way to rapidly evaluate the size structure of fish populations designed to be readily understood by a wide audience. Relative length frequency compares the length frequency of fish from a particular water body with an average developed for a region. This technique is analogous to relative weight, relative condition, or relative growth, which are used to compare the condition or growth of fish in a particular water body with rangewide or regional standards. Relative length frequency can be used in conjunction with relative weight or relative growth to rapidly identify factors potentially limiting fish production. I demonstrate this method with data on largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from Washington State and roundtail chub Gila robusta from Arizona that were collected during standardized electrofishing surveys.