Food consumption rates for use in generalised radiological dose assessments

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several Punjab Settlement Officers attempted to estimate food consumption rates. These estimates, based on direct observation and ad hoc guesses, were made partly out of academic curiosity, but more urgently, as an aid in establishing the land revenue (i.e., tax) rates. The pre-1926 estimates are summarized in Table I, expressed in pounds of wheat and other foodgrain consumption per person per year1. Broadly speaking, the later, more systemtic observers (e.g., Sir Ganga Ram and C. B. Barry), found lower consumption levels than the earlier observers. It was generally accepted that the rural populace ate better than urban dwellers. Despite the ingenuity of the early Settlement Officers, their compiled estimates suffer from all the difficulties of haphazard small sample observation. Given the revenue purpose of the estimates, they may be biased towards the able-bodied, economically active, population. Further, the very early estimates may have confused dry weight with cooked weight, including water.

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A generic model to estimate food consumption: linking von Bertalanffy’s growth model with Beverton and Holt’s and Ivlev’s concepts of net conversion efficiency

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f09-028 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 683-700 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Axel Temming ◽

Jens P. Herrmann

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Growth Model ◽

Conversion Efficiency ◽

Gadus Morhua ◽

Generic Model ◽

Similar Degree ◽

Growth Equation ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Gastric Evacuation ◽

Consumption Rates

In this paper, a mathematical derivation is presented that links von Bertalanffy’s growth model with the concept of net conversion efficiency of Beverton and Holt, aiming at the development of an equation that can calculate food consumption rates of wild populations from parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth equation and an estimate of the net food conversion efficiency of Beverton and Holt. The derivation is based on Pauly’s version of the generalized von Bertalanffy equation, which allows the allometric exponent of the anabolism term to differ from 2/3, as in the standard von Bertalanffy equation. As a side product, a general model is formulated that describes the gross growth conversion efficiency (K1 of Ivlev) as a function of weight of the organism. The new equations for the estimation of food consumption are applied in two case studies, North Sea cod ( Gadus morhua ) and whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ), for which a variety of consumption estimates is available from conventional gastric evacuation-based methods. The new method produces results that show a similar degree of variability as was observed in various applications of the gastric evacuation method.

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Error in Estimation of Feeding Rates from Changes in Mean Body Mass

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f88-176 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 45 (8) ◽

pp. 1494-1498 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

P. A. Cochran ◽

K. J. Knutsen

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Body Mass ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Feeding Rates ◽

Growth Data ◽

Typical Application ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Actual Field ◽

Change In Mean

Because of nonlinear relationships between body mass and many parameters in energetics models, rates of food intake calculated from change in mean body mass (a typical application of energetics models) do not necessarily equal true mean rates of food intake calculated from individual changes in body mass. Using both hypothetical data and actual field data for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) marked with individually numbered tags, we show that discrepancies increase with variability in body mass but are negligible (< 3.5%) in all cases examined. Biased estimates of change in mean body mass, such as might result from size-selective mortality or sampling gear, can lead to substantial errors in energetics model estimates of mean food consumption rates. Use of growth data for individually marked fish in conjunction with an energetics model permits calculation of confidence intervals, statistical comparison of food consumption rates, and examination of relationships between foraging success and individual body mass.

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Evaluation of a Method for Estimating Food Consumption Rates of Fish

Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada ◽

10.1139/f73-110 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 30 (5) ◽

pp. 623-629 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Robert F. Carline ◽

James D. Hall

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Coho Salmon ◽

Oncorhynchus Kisutch ◽

Growth Efficiency ◽

Behavior Patterns ◽

Growth Data ◽

Wide Range ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Similar Growth ◽

Experimental Stream

A method of estimating food consumption rates of fish in nature from laboratory growth data was evaluated using juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in three similar experiments. One group of coho was held individually in aquariums where movement was restricted. Another group was maintained in an experimental stream where the coho displayed many of their typical behavior patterns. All fish were fed known rations and both groups had similar growth efficiencies over a wide range of rations. Coho feeding at intermediate rates had the highest gross efficiencies. Aggressive activity did not affect growth efficiency. Results suggested that laboratory food and growth data may provide reasonably accurate estimates of food consumption of coho salmon in nature.

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Interactions between White Perch (Morone amerićana) and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) in Lake Erie as Determined from Feeding and Growth

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f90-202 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 47 (9) ◽

pp. 1779-1787 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Donna L. Parrish ◽

F. Joseph Margraf

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Yellow Perch ◽

White Perch ◽

Perca Flavescens ◽

Diet Overlap ◽

Central Basin ◽

Morone Americana ◽

Western Basin ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Growth Differences

Since the mid-1970's, white perch Morone americana have expanded rapidly, resulting in possible major interactions with the native yellow perch Perca flavescens. We compared the food consumption rates, diet overlap, and growth of white perch and yellow perch from field data collected during 1983–85 and 1987. Food consumption rates were as much as 27% greater in white perch than in yellow perch, and were higher for both species in the central basin than in the western basin. Seasonal diet composition was most alike in summer and less so in spring and fall, when yellow perch ate more benthos or fish than did white perch. Of 48 Schoener index comparisons of diet overlap during a 3-yr period, 52% were significant (> 0.6). Although yellow perch grew faster in the central basin, reflecting the greater consumption rates, white perch did not show the similar large interbasin growth differences.

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FOOD CONSUMPTION RATES AND COMPETITION IN A COMMUNALLY FEEDING SOCIAL SPIDER, STEGODYPHUS DUMICOLA (ERESIDAE)

Journal of Arachnology ◽

10.1636/0161-8202(2000)028[0195:fcraci]2.0.co;2 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 195-200 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Nava Amir ◽

Mary E. A. Whitehouse ◽

Yael Lubin

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Social Spider ◽

Consumption Rates

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Parental Care and Feeding Ecology of Golden Eagle Nestlings

The Auk ◽

10.2307/4086902 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 101 (4) ◽

pp. 753-760 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Michael W. Collopy

Keyword(s):

Parental Care ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Birds Of Prey ◽

Brood Rearing ◽

Daily Food ◽

Golden Eagles ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

The Mean ◽

Capture Rates

AbstractA field study of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) nesting in and near the Snake River Birds of Prey Area was conducted during 1977-1979. Patterns of parental care differed between female and male eagles during incubation and chick rearing; males consistently captured more food throughout all phases of brood rearing (1.2 vs. 0.6 prey/day), while females typically fed and tended the offspring. During the 7th through 9th week of chick rearing, when the food requirements of nestlings were greatest, the female contributed 43% of the prey biomass. No differences were observed in mean daily capture rates between 1978 and 1979 or between parents of one-chick broods and parents of two-chick broods. Although there were no differences between the sexes in the mean weight of prey captured, there were significant differences among pairs, suggesting differences in prey availability or hunting ability. The daily food consumption of eaglets increased as chick rearing progressed and peaked between the 7th and 9th week. Comparisons between eaglets in different-sized broods revealed that individuals in multiple-chick broods received more food from adults than those in one-chick broods. Late in chick rearing, however, those chicks competing with siblings for food had lower consumption rates.

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Water Turnover and Estimated Food-Consumption in 3 Species of Fairy-Wren (Malurus Spp)

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr9890187 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 187 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

SC Tidemann ◽

B Green ◽

K Newgrain

Keyword(s):

Drinking Water ◽

Food Consumption ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Water Turnover ◽

Interspecific Differences ◽

Water Influx ◽

Daily Food ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Dry Conditions ◽

Malurus Cyaneus

Water influx rates and estimated food consumption rates were determined for adults, juveniles and nestlings of three co-existing species of fairy-wrens: superb (Malurus cyaneus), variegated (M. lamberti) and white-winged (M. leucopterus). There were no significant interspecific differences with respect to water influxes of either juveniles or adults, but variation within species was large. Adults and juveniles had higher water influx values and daily food requirements than nestlings. M. cyaneus nestlings had higher mass-specific water influxes and food intakes than both M. leucopterus and M, lamberti, but the latter two did not differ in these parameters. The higher mortality of M. cyaneus and the requirement for drinking water during hot, dry conditions indicate that the inland distribution and abundance of this species are more constrained by climatic conditions than are populations of M. lamberti and M. leucopterus.

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