Ontogenic changes in the allometric scaling of the mass and length relationship in Sprattus sprattus

Abstract

An analysis of mass (M) and standard length (L S ) data for larval, juvenile and adult sprat (Sprattus sprattus; Clupeidae) revealed marked changes in the allometric scaling factor (b in M¼ aL b s ). For sprat <44 mm L S , b was 5Á0, whereas in larger juveniles and adults, b was c. 3Á4 indicating a relatively protracted metamorphic period for this species. # 2005 The Fisheries Society of the British IslesThe mass (M) and length (L) relationship of early life stages of marine fish species has been the subject of considerable research (Laurence, 1979;Safran, 1992;Pepin, 1995) due to the desire to accurately estimate fish condition. The M and L relationship is typically described using a logged form of an allometric equation:(1)where a and b are constants. The range in b-values (slopes) calculated for larvae of marine fishes is considerably larger (e.g. b ¼ 2Á7 to 4Á2) (Laurence, 1979;Pepin, 1995) than that for later developmental stages where isometric slopes (e.g. b ' 3) are often observed (Fulton, 1911;Dawson, 1965;Coull et al., 1989;Safran, 1992;Koutrakis & Tsikliras, 2003). Therefore, in some fish species the slope of the M and L relationship changes during early development until the adult body form is reached. Intra-specific comparisons of M and L data collected for larvae, juveniles and adults, however, are rare. Consequently, changes in the slope of the M and L relationship during ontogeny remain poorly documented for most fish species. The present study addressed this by comparing the M and L relationship over the complete range in body sizes †Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel.: þ49 4042 838 6602; fax: þ49 4042 838 6618;

Population structure, condition factor and reproductive period of Astyanax paranae (Eigenmann, 1914) (Osteichthyes: Characidae) in a small and old Brazilian Reservoir

“…Oscillations in the environmental conditions, especially food supply, may affect the sex ratio among different populations of the same species (Nikolsky, 1978). The observed distinct values of b between the females and males, were coherent with the reports of variations in this parameter for the same fish species related to the age, sex, season and environmental conditions (Le Cren, 1951;Bagenal and Tesch, 1978;Bolger and Connolly, 1989;Goulart, 1994;Godinho, 1997;Morey, et al, 2003;Peck et al, 2005). Usually, b varied from 2.0 to 4.0 (Bagenal and Tesch, 1978).…”

“…Usually, b varied from 2.0 to 4.0 (Bagenal and Tesch, 1978). Although, extreme values could be found, i.e., Peck et al (2005) reported b equal to 5.0 for young of the clupeid Sprattus sprattus. For many fish populations b was close to 3.0 (Ney, 1993) as it was observed for A. paranae in Alagados.…”

Population structure, condition and diet of Oligosarcus paranensis (Menezes & Gery, 1983) (Osteichthyes: Characidae) at two reservoirs in South Brazil

“…12,no. 1 Tesch 1978, Goulart 1994, Godinho 1997, Peck et al 2005, Nunes & Hartz 2006. The proposed limit values usually vary between 2.5 and 4.0 according to Pope & Kruse (2007) or between 2.0 and 4.0 according to Bagenal & Tesch (1978).…”

Temperature effects on vital rates of different life stages and implications for population growth of Baltic sprat

“…For feeding larvae, the effect of temperature on growth rate (mm day ) using the weight and length of the individual larvae at catch and the allometric length-weight relationship published in Peck et al (2005). A dome-shaped polynomial regression (r 2 = 0.81, optimum growth at 11.9°C, Table 1) was fitted to mean length growth data in relation to in situ temperature (nearest°C).…”

“…The corresponding increase in length was estimated from published length-weight relationships of different size classes of sprat (Peck et al 2005), and its relationship to temperature was best described with a quadratic function (Table 1). YOY stage duration D yoy (d) was then estimated assuming constant growth (mm d -1 ) by dividing the size interval (50 mm) by the growth rate.…”