Recovery of Bioenergetics Parameters from Information on Growth: Overview of an Approach Based on Statistical Analysis of Tagging and Size-At- Age Data

ABSTRACT

Parameters for size allometry in feeding and metabolic rates, along with Q10 parameters for responses of these rates to seasonal temperature change, can in principle be estimated from field data on growth, particularly seasonal tagging studies. However, it is still typically necessary to complement or constrain the field estimates with information from laboratory studies, particularly on power parameters for size allometry in metabolism, Q10 for metabolism, and responses of feeding rate at high temperatures. Ontogenetic habitat shifts can cause apparent changes in the size power parameters that are in fact due to temperature differences between the habitats. Seasonal changes in body condition (due to feeding, metabolism, and reproduction) can be represented using simple models for allocation of food intake to skeletal growth, though parameter estimation for such models is grossly unreliable when only seasonal changes in length growth rates have been measured.