Effect of temporal changes in size composition on estimates of von Bertalanffy growth parameters for Gemfish, Rexa solandri (Cuvier), Gempylidae

1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.R. Rowling ◽  
DD Reid

Estimates of von Bertalanffy growth parameters were made for mature (>3-year-old) gemfish (Rexea solandri), using otoliths sampled biennially from commercial catches between 1980 and 1986. During this period, there was a significant decline in the mean length of mature gemfish in the catch. Large variations in growth-parameter estimates were found over the period sampled (e.g. L∞ ranged between 87.3 and 130.3 cm for males and between 113.1 and 134.7 cm for females). Likelihood-ratio tests showed many of the growth-parameter estimates to be significantly different between the years sampled. Inclusion in the analyses of data for juvenile (1- to 3-year-old) fish considerably reduced both the standard errors of the parameter estimates and the significance of the variations between them. Comparison of parameters estimated by following the growth of individual cohorts spawned in 1975 and 1981 suggested that the variations in the parameters for the 1980-86 data were caused by differences in the length composition of the samples rather than by changes in the growth rate of the fish. The results suggest the need for care when comparing growth parameters estimated for different populations, especially when there are large differences in length composition. The best estimates of growth parameters for gemfish were considered to be those derived from the aggregate data for the whole of the period sampled, including the data for juveniles. For male gemfish these best estimates (with asymptotic standard errors in parentheses) were L∞ =97.5 (0.8) cm, K=0.212 (0.005) year-1 and to = - 0.54 (0.05) years, and for females the estimates were L∞ = 109.4 (0.6) cm, K= 0.180 (0.003) year-1 and to= -0.63 (0.04) years. Likelihood-ratio tests showed these estimates of L∞ and K to be significantly different between the sexes.

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shui-Kai Chang ◽  
Tzu-Lun Yuan ◽  
Simon D. Hoyle ◽  
Jessica H. Farley ◽  
Jen-Chieh Shiao

Growth shapes the life history of fishes. Establishing appropriate aging procedures and selecting representative growth models are important steps in developing stock assessments. Flyingfishes (Exocoetidae) have ecological, economic, and cultural importance to many coastal countries including Taiwan. There are 29 species of flyingfishes found in the Kuroshio Current off Taiwan and adjacent waters, comprising 56% of the flyingfishes taxa recorded worldwide. Among the six dominant species in Taiwan, four are of special importance. This study reviews aging data of these four species, documents major points of the aging methods to address three aging issues identified in the literature, and applies multi-model inference to estimate sex-combined and sex-specific growth parameters for each species. The candidate growth models examined included von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic, and Richards models, and the resulting optimal model tended to be the von Bertalanffy model for sex-combined data and Gompertz and von Bertalanffy models for sex-specific cases. The study also estimates hatch dates from size data collected from 2008 to 2017; the results suggest that the four flyingfishes have two spawning seasons per year. Length-weight relationships are also estimated for each species. Finally, the study combines the optimal growth estimates from this study with estimates for all flyingfishes published globally, and statistically classifies the estimates into clusters by hierarchical clustering analysis of logged growth parameters. The results demonstrate that aging materials substantially affect growth parameter estimates. This is the first study to estimate growth parameters of flyingfishes with multiple model consideration. This study provides advice for aging flyingfishes based on the three aging issues and the classification analysis, including a recommendation of using the asterisci for aging flyingfishes to avoid complex otolith processing procedures, which could help researchers from coastal countries to obtain accurate growth parameters for many flyingfishes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 2025-2032
Author(s):  
E B Smith ◽  
F M Williams ◽  
C R Fisher

The effects of intrapopulation variability on the parameter estimates of the von Bertalanffy growth equation have received discussion in the literature. Here we evaluated the effects of intrapopulation variability, using computer simulations, on four commonly used methods for estimating the von Bertalanffy growth parameters: the Ford-Walford plot, Ricker's method, Bayley's method, and Fabens' method. Intrapopulation variability in growth rates (k) and maximum sizes ( L infinity ) plus initial size distributions and measurement error, were tested for their effects on the accuracy of the parameter estimates using simulated mark-recapture data with equal recapture intervals. Fabens' method and a modified Ford-Walford plot provided the most accurate estimates in all cases, but when intrapopulation variability was large, they performed poorly. With moderate intrapopulation variability, the bias in estimates was small although between-sample variance was quite large. Biased initial size distributions without either small or large size classes cause a magnification of the estimation errors. Without knowledge of the degree of intrapopulation variability in a natural population, large errors of unknown magnitude in parameter estimation can result, and care should be taken when interpreting these estimates. However, if this variability can be quantified, then approximate parameter estimate errors can be obtained.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
Nafi Sakila ◽  
Dinda Ayu Ramadhani ◽  
Ani Suryanti

Sei Nipah has enormous potential for natural resources. Natural resources that serve as the main livelihood in fulfilling daily needs in Kampung Nipah is shellfish. Shellfish (M. meretrix) is one of the shells that many interested by the surrounding community. The purpose of this research is to know growth parameter and age group of shellfish (M. meretrix) in Kampung Nipah. The sampling technique was done randomly (simple random sampling). Sampling time is done at low tide. Sampling was conducted in March - May 2017. The results showed differences in the length of different shells each month. The size group of shellfish (M. meretrix) found only one size group during the three months of the study. Analysis of shellfish growth parameters based on data of long frequency distribution showed length of infiniti (L?) 33,10 mm and growth growth (K) that was 1,21 per month. Von Bertalanffy Growth Parameters Lt = 33.1 (1-e [-1.21 (t + 0.12)]) Long infiniti size is seen the growth of shellfish shells can no longer be worked Shells reach maximum length at the age of 13 months with a shell length of 33.10 mm.The youthful shells have rapid growth and as age increases, when it reaches old age the rate of growth will slow even.


Author(s):  
Ivelina Yordanova Zlateva ◽  
Nikola Nikolov

Advanced in the present article is a Two-step procedure designed on the methods of the least squares (LS) and instrumental variable (IV) techniques for simultaneous estimation of the three unknown parameters L∞, K and t0, which represent the individual growth of fish in the von Bertalanffy growth equation. For the purposes of the present analysis, specific MATLAB-based software has been developed through simulated data sets to test the operational workability of the proposed procedure and pinpoint areas of improvement. The resulting parameter estimates have been analyzed on the basis of consecutive comparison (the initial conditions being the same) between the results delivered by the two-step procedure for simultaneous estimation of L∞, K and t0 and the results obtained via the most commonly employed methods for estimating growth parameters; first, use has been made of the Gulland-and-Holt method for estimating the asymptotic length L∞and the curvature parameter K, followed by the von Bertalanffy method for estimation of t0.


2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham M Pilling ◽  
Geoffrey P Kirkwood ◽  
Stephen G Walker

A new method for estimating individual variability in the von Bertalanffy growth parameters of fish species is presented. The method uses a nonlinear random effects model, which explicitly assumes that an individual's growth parameters represent samples from a multivariate population of growth parameters characteristic of a species or population. The method was applied to backcalculated length-at-age data from the tropical emperor, Lethrinus mahsena. Individual growth parameter variability estimates were compared with those derived using the current "standard" method, which characterizes the joint distribution of growth parameter estimates obtained by independently fitting a growth curve to each individual data set. Estimates of mean von Bertalanffy growth parameters from the two methods were similar. However, estimated growth parameter variances were much higher using the standard method. Using the random effects model, the estimated correlation between population mean values of L[Formula: see text] and K was –0.52 or –0.42, depending on the marginal distribution assumed for K. The latter estimate had a 95% posterior credibility interval of –0.62 to –0.17. These represent the first reliable estimate of this correlation and confirm the view that these parameters are negatively correlated in fish populations; however, the absolute correlation value is somewhat lower than has been assumed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne Giles ◽  
Melissa Whitrow ◽  
Alice Rumbold ◽  
Michael Davies ◽  
Vivienne Moore

Abstract Background The relationship between patterns of weight gain across childhood and the onset of puberty remains unclear. We aimed to derive growth parameters (size, tempo, and velocity) from models of weight across childhood and to estimate their effects on age at menarche. Methods Serial height and weight measurements from birth to age 9.5 years for 557 children who took part in the Generation 1 cohort study were used, along with girls’ menstrual history at age 12-13 years. Shape invariant random effects models were fit to log(weight+1) for all available participants’ data (282 girls, 260 boys), and AIC used to identify the best-fitting model. In time-to-event models subsequently fit to the girls’ data to estimate effects of the growth parameters on menarcheal age, a censoring age of 12 years was used to define early puberty. Results A model with 4df and fixed and random effects for size and tempo and a fixed effect for velocity was preferred. Some 19% of girls began menstruating before age 12 years. Size and tempo were each associated with an increased hazard of earlier menarche; a 0.1 unit gain in size was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.75 (95%CI 1.32–2.33), and a 0.1 unit gain in tempo with a hazard ratio of 7.84 (95%CI 3.41–18.05). Conclusions Using all participants’ data gave more precise growth parameter estimates. Key messages Understanding mechanisms that drive increased size and tempo of childhood growth may help to elucidate the links between obesity and girls’ risk of early puberty.


2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 2150-2163
Author(s):  
Luke Batts ◽  
Cóilín Minto ◽  
Hans Gerritsen ◽  
Deirdre Brophy

Abstract Analysis of length frequency distributions from surveys is one well-known method for obtaining growth parameter estimates where direct age estimates are not available. We present a likelihood-based procedure that uses mixture models and the expectation–maximization algorithm to estimate growth parameters from length frequency data (LFEM). A basic LFEM model estimates a single set of growth parameters that produce one set of component means and standard deviations that best fits length frequency distributions over all years and surveys. The hierarchical extension incorporates bivariate random effects into the model. A hierarchical framework enables inter-annual or inter-cohort variation in some of the growth parameters to be modelled, thereby accommodating some of the natural variation that occurs in fish growth. Testing on two fish species, haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and white-bellied anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), we were able to obtain reasonable estimates of growth parameters, as well as successfully model growth variability. Estimated growth parameters showed some sensitivity to the starting values and occasionally failed to converge on biologically realistic values. This was dealt with through model selection and was partly addressed by the addition of the hierarchical extension.


2021 ◽  
Vol 657 ◽  
pp. 191-207
Author(s):  
MD Ramirez ◽  
T Popovska ◽  
EA Babcock

Knowledge of sea turtle demographic rates is central to modeling their population dynamics, but few studies have quantitatively synthesized existing data globally. Here, we used a Bayesian hierarchical model to conduct a meta-analysis of published von Bertalanffy growth curve parameters (growth coefficient, K; asymptotic length, L∞) for chelonid sea turtles. We identified 34 studies for 5 of 6 extant chelonids that met minimum selection criteria. We implemented a suite of models that included a multivariate normal likelihood on the log-transformed values of the 2 parameters to evaluate the influence of species, population (regional management unit, RMU), parameter estimation method (mark-recapture, skeletochronology, length-frequency analysis), latitude, and sampled body size range (all sizes, no large, no small, no large or small) on growth parameter estimates. According to information criteria, the best model included a random effect of species. The second best model also included latitude as a fixed effect, but RMU, parameter estimation method, latitude, and sampled body size ultimately did not strongly influence the means or variances of K and L∞ among studies. The apparent lack of RMU effect on parameter estimates within species may be an artifact of the small number of RMUs with published growth parameter estimates. The species-specific, and in some cases RMU-specific, posterior means and standard deviations of K and L∞ from this study would be appropriate priors for future studies of growth in chelonid sea turtles or for models of population dynamics. We highlight the need for expanded study and synthesis of sea turtle somatic growth rates.


1992 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
RC Buckworth

Mark-recapture experiments, conducted near Groote Eylandt in the western Gulf of Carpentaria during 1984, were used to examine movements and growth of blue endeavour prawns, Metapenaeus endeavouri. The mean distance moved by tagged animals was only 12.7 (s.e.�1.0) km, but a few were recaptured > 100 km from their release sites. The mean time at liberty was 36.8 (�1.6) days, the maximum being 155 days. The distance and speed of movements were not related to the size or sex of tagged prawns. Nonuniform recapture patterns corresponded largely with fishing effort. Recaptures per unit effort (R/f analyses), used to account for nonuniform fishing effort, indicated that there was no directionality in movements. Thus, tagged specimens of M. endeavouri dispersed slowly across suitable adult habitat, with limited intermixing of adults from stocks around Groote Eylandt. Estimates of the von Bertalanffy growth parameters L∞ and K for each sex were obtained for data from summer and winter releases. The fit of the von Bertalanffy model to summer data was limited by the small number of recaptures. The fit of the model to winter data was improved by removing early recaptures, and these estimates are presented as the primary descriptors of growth in M. endeavouri. Parameter estimates did not differ significantly between seasons, but L∞ differed between sexes and K differed between sexes in winter. Predicted growth corresponded to the progression of modes in length-frequency data from commercial catches.


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