Development of a
bioenergetics model for fish embryos and larvae during the yolk feeding
period
A. Jaworski, E. Kamler-2002
Journal of Fish Biology, 60(4): 785-809
Abstract:
A >mechanistic model of an energy budget in
fish embryos and yolk-sac larvae was developed using data for
five freshwater fish species: rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, nase Chondrostoma nasus, carp Cyprinus carpio,
tench Tinca tinca and African catfish Clarias gariepinus, based on the existing models for adult and juvenile
fishes. The model simulates changes in the components
of the budget under various conditions. Besides the
effects of body mass and temperature on consumption
and metabolic rate, the dependence of ration size on amount of available yolk and initial egg size was implemented
in the model. The model parameters were found through
optimization. A sensitivity analysis of the model
was conducted by varying its parameters and observing
changes in the output. A comparative analysis showed
that the values generated by the model closely approximated
independent empirical observations. Simulations of
energy budgets demonstrated that the overall pattern
of energy partitioning was the same for different
species, irrespective of egg size and temperature
preferences. Most energy was allocated to body growth.
Clarias gariepinus showed the fastest growth
and had the highest yolk conversion efficiency.