Growth rates of large, sexually mature cod Gadus morhua, in relation to condition and temperature during an annual cycle

Aquaculture ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torstein Pedersen ◽  
Malcolm Jobling
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Sexually Mature

Biology of Gadus morhua in Ogac Lake, a Landlocked Fiord on Baffin Island

1967 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 2573-2594 ◽  
Author(s):  
David G. Patriquin
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
Sea Urchins ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Baffin Island ◽  
Meristic Characters ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Fin Ray ◽  
High Length

Gadus morhua L. occurs in Ogac Lake, a salt, meromictic lake on Baffin Island that receives influxes of seawater only during the highest summer tides. Cod of the order of 10,000 of lengths 25 cm and greater and 500 of lengths greater than 60 cm were present. The size ranges for various ages far exceeded those of oceanic populations. Feeding conditions were poor, and sea urchins predominated in the diet. Large cod (greater than 50 cm) were highly cannibalistic, and it was estimated that they consume of the order of 3500 fish of 20–40 cm annually. Maturation occurred at the unusually large size of 85 cm in females, and at about 65 cm in males. Apparently many of the cod never reach these sizes. Spawning was from late May to early July in 1962, and initiation of spawning appeared to be related to light. The hatching of cod larvae coincided with the appearance of the nauplii of the dominant copepod in the lake. Egg size was highly variable and exhibited a curious bimodalism. Variation in vertebral and fin-ray counts was slight in spite of high environmental variability, and thus appears largely genetically controlled. Possibly the first inhabitants came from Greenland stocks, which have high growth rates similar to the faster growing cod in the lake, and similar high length at maturity. Meristic characters also suggest affinity with Greenland rather than Labrador cod. The hydrography of the area and the possibilities of larval drift or adult migration into the lake are discussed. Cannibalism must exert continuing selection for high growth rates, but very poor feeding conditions and hierarchial dominance effects probably prevent general attainment of high growth rates.

Relationships Between RNA–DNA Ratio, Prey Density, and Growth Rate in Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) Larvae

1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1497-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Buckley
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Prey Density ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dna And Rna

The protein, DNA, and RNA content of larvae maintained at 1.0 plankter/mL increased at the rates of 9.3, 9.9, and 9.8% per day, respectively, for the 5 wk after hatching. Protein reserves of larvae held at 0 or 0.2 plankters/mL were depleted by 45 and 35%, respectively, prior to death 12–13 d after hatching. Starved larvae had similar protein concentrations (percent of dry weight), lower RNA concentrations, and higher DNA concentrations than fed larvae. Larvae held at higher plankton densities had higher RNA–DNA ratios and faster growth rates than larvae held at lower plankton densities. The RNA–DNA ratio was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with the protein growth rate. The RNA–DNA ratio appears to be a useful index of nutritional status in larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and may be useful for determining if cod larvae were in a period of rapid or slow growth at the time of capture. Key words: RNA–DNA ratio, starvation, protein, nucleic acids, growth, larval fish, Atlantic cod

Do abiotic mechanisms determine interannual variability in length-at-age of juvenile Arcto-Norwegian cod?

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir Ottersen ◽  
Kristin Helle ◽  
Bjarte Bogstad
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Inverse Relation ◽  
Lower Growth ◽  
Density Dependent ◽  
The Barents Sea ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Dependent Growth

For the large Arcto-Norwegian stock of cod (Gadus morhua L.) in the Barents Sea, year-to-year variability in growth is well documented. Here three hypotheses for the observed inverse relation between abundance and the mean length-at-age of juveniles (ages 1–4) are suggested and evaluated. Based on comprehensive data, we conclude that year-to-year differences in length-at-age are mainly determined by density-independent mechanisms during the pelagic first half year of the fishes' life. Enhanced inflow from the southwest leads to an abundant cohort at the 0-group stage being distributed farther east into colder water masses, causing lower postsettlement growth rates. We can not reject density-dependent growth effects related to variability in food rations, but our data do not suggest this to be the main mechanism. Another hypothesis suggests that lower growth rates during periods of high abundance are a result of density-dependent mechanisms causing the geographic range of juveniles to extend eastwards into colder water masses. This is rejected mainly because year-to-year differences in mean length are established by age 2, which is too early for movements over large distances.

scholarly journals The logic of skipped spawning in fish

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Jørgensen ◽  
Bruno Ernande ◽  
Øyvind Fiksen ◽  
Ulf Dieckmann
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Skipped Spawning ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Mature Fish ◽  
Future Gain ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Shed Light

That sexually mature fish skip reproduction, especially in response to poor condition, has been documented in many species. We present results from an energy-allocation life history model that shed light on the underlying logic of skipped spawning, based on the Northeast Arctic stock of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The model predicts that skipped spawning is a regular phenomenon, with up to 30% of the sexually mature biomass skipping spawning. Spawning should be skipped if the expected future gain in reproductive output, discounted by survival, more than balances the expected reproductive success the current year. Skipped spawning was most common (i) among potential second-time spawners and (ii) early in life, (iii) when fishing mortality at the spawning grounds was high, (iv) when fishing mortality at the feeding grounds was low, (v) when natural mortality was low, and (vi) when the energetic and mortality costs associated with migration and spawning were high. Cod skipped spawning more often when food availability was both increased (opportunities for better growth) and decreased (too little energy for gonad development), and this pattern interacted with mortality rate. We conclude that skipped spawning may be more widespread than appreciated and highlight potential consequences for the understanding of stock–recruitment relationships.

Comparison of size-at-age of larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from different populations based on size- and temperature-dependent growth models

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1037-1052 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Folkvord
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Growth Models ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Temperature History ◽  
Temperature Dependent ◽  
Dependent Growth

This study presents the first intraspecific evaluation of larval growth performance across several different experimental scales, environments, and regions of a marine fish species. Size- and temperature-dependent growth models for larval and early juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are developed based on selected laboratory experiments with cod fed in excess. Observed sizes-at-age of cod from several experiments and stocks are compared with predictions from the models using initial size and ambient temperature history as inputs. Comparisons with results from other laboratory experiments reveal that the model predictions represent relatively high growth rates. Results from enclosure experiments under controlled seminatural conditions generally provide growth rates similar to those predicted from the models. The models therefore produce suitable reference growth predictions against which field-based growth estimates can be compared. These comparisons suggest that surviving cod larvae in the sea typically grow at rates close to their size- and temperature-dependent capacity. This suggests that climatic influences will strongly affect the year-to-year variations in growth of cod during their early life history owing to their markedly temperature-dependent growth potential.

Effects of Intermediate and Low Salinity Conditions on Growth Rate and Food Conversion of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua)

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (7) ◽  
pp. 1569-1576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvan Lambert ◽  
Jean-Denis Dutil ◽  
Jean Munro
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Coastal Regions ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
Feeding Regimes ◽  
Food Conversion Efficiency

Growth rates of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were measured under different salinity conditions to test the hypothesis that growth would be best in an isosmotic environment. The results of two experiments (spring and autumn 1991) conducted at three different salinities (7, 14, and 28‰) and two feeding regimes indicate a significant effect of salinity and ration on growth rate. Within each experiment, growth rates were highest for cod maintained in intermediate salinity conditions (14‰). Growth rates in low salinity conditions (7‰) were higher than in seawater (28‰) during the spring, but during the autumn, growth rates of cod held under low salinity conditions and in seawater were similar. Higher growth rates at lower salinities resulted from an increase in food conversion efficiency. They were not associated with an increase in food intake, changes in composition (proteins, lipids, or water), or relative allocation of energy to the tissues (muscle, liver, and gonads) of cod. The results indicate that rearing cod at intermediate salinities, such as would occur in estuaries or coastal regions, could confer an advantage for cod aquaculture.

Interpopulation differences in growth rates and food conversion efficiencies of young Grand Banks and Gulf of Maine Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 2223-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig F Purchase ◽  
Joseph A Brown
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Food Conversion ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Grand Banks ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

Geographically separated Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stocks in the northwest Atlantic exhibit life history variation and have been shown to differ genetically. The genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic differences, however, have not yet been measured. We used common environment experiments to evaluate the importance of temperature on the observed growth variation between Grand Banks (GB) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod stocks. Larvae from the GB grew faster than GOM larvae at both 7 and 12°C. Growth rates of juveniles were not different, but GB juveniles had higher food conversion efficiencies than those from the GOM (at both ambient and warm temperatures). The results indicate that faster growth of GOM cod in the wild is not due to a higher genetic capacity for growth rate in GOM than in GB fish. The findings give evidence of genetically based phenotypic variation, which is in agreement with molecular studies on population differentiation in cod, and support the theory of countergradient variation in growth rates of larval fish.

The Life History of the Cirratulid Worm, Cirriformia Tentaculata, on an Intertidal Mudflat

1964 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. George
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Life History ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuation ◽  
Mortality Data ◽  
Intertidal Mudflat ◽  
History Of ◽  
Causes Of Mortality ◽  
Sexually Mature

The seasonal fluctuation in numbers of C. tentaculata was investigated from December 1959 until February 1962. The lowest numbers were recorded in April followed by a rapid increase in numbers during May. The magnitude of the increase varied from year to year, as also did the number of peaks that occurred during the summer months.The worm was shown to have an extended breeding season from the end of March to September during which several spawning ‘bursts’ took place. Experiments suggest that some spawning may occur when the mudflat is inundated by the rising tide, although spawning was not observed in the field.The population of C. tentaculata exhibited an annual cycle of growth which was influenced by the seasonal variation in temperature. Laboratory observations suggest that a temperature of about 20° C is optimal for the growth of young worms. The growth rate (8 mm/year) is slow compared with that of other polychaetes.It is tentatively concluded from the field mortality data that between 10 and 16 % of animals survive to an age at which they are sexually mature; between 6 and 8 % of each generation reach an age of 15 months. Causes of mortality in the population are briefly discussed.

Nucleic acids and enzymes in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) differing in condition and growth rate trajectories

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 788-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Denis Dutil ◽  
Yvan Lambert ◽  
Helga Guderley ◽  
Pierre U Blier ◽  
Dany Pelletier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Food Deprivation ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
White Muscle ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Direct Result ◽  
Muscle Lactate ◽  
Lactate Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Feeding Regimes

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) were exposed to one of four feeding regimes, 16 weeks of food deprivation (U) or satiation feeding (F) or two 8-week periods of food deprivation followed by satiation feeding (UF) or vice versa (FU), to determine whether relationships between nucleic acids or enzymes and growth rates result from a general enhancement of individual condition or are a direct result of enhanced growth rates. Final condition factor (K) differed between treatments, but did not differ between the mixed treatments after either 8 weeks of negative growth (FU) or 8 weeks of positive growth (UF). Intestinal cytochrome c oxidase activity matched the expected short-term growth rates, not only in fed and unfed fish but also in cod exposed to the mixed treatments (FU and UF). White muscle lactate dehydrogenase activity reflected growth rates, but initial levels were not reached within 8 weeks in FU cod. The liver glutamate pyruvate transaminase : DNA ratio reflected differences in K, but not differences in recent growth rates. Myofibrillar proteins decreased in unfed cod, while sarcoplasmic proteins followed changes in K more closely. The RNA:DNA ratio in white muscle did not reflect changes in K or changes in growth rates.

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