Experience in teaching biological statistics

The work summarizes the many years of experience in teaching the discipline “Biological statistics” to students - biotechnologists of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (technical university). The paper provides data on the features of teaching the course and its relationship with other disciplines of the curriculum, topics of coursework performed by students, publication activity of students, integration of educational research work of students with topics of the university and industrial partners of the university, as well as attracting students to the development of the discipline.

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SIRES AND REARING JUVENILS OF PIKEPERCH STOCKED UP FOR REPRODUCTION IN THE KAPCHAGAI WATER RESERVOIR

The purpose of research is determining the terms of spawning, age and morphometric characteristics of sires and rearing stocks of pikeperch ( Sander lucioperca ) gathered in one of the inlets of the Kapchagai water reservoir in 2012-2014. There were measured the mass, overall and commercial length, thickness and height of the body, head length, height of caudal paduncle, maximum body circumference. Fatness was determined, according to Fulton. To determine age there was used fish-scale. Reliability assessment of distinctions in dimensions was carried out by means of biological statistics. The terms of beginning (11-15 April) and end (20-22 April) of pikeperch spawning have been determined. The age of sires at catch is 5-9 years. There has been revealed the absence of essential dimensional distinctions in male and female pikeperch species; however, there were found distinctions in the side groups. Size indexes values of pikeperch sires from the investigated region of the Kapchagai water reservoir demonstrate polymorphism of pikeperch sires. The data obtained allow to plan rearing pikeperch juveniles breeding at all stages of production process.

A simple and inexpensive apparatus for measuring fish metabolism

A simple, noninvasive, and economical home-made respirometer has been used to determine the standard metabolism of goldfish. The apparatus has been tested on several fishes and has proved its accuracy in determining a mass effect on standard metabolism. The apparatus can be made easily by middle school, high school, and undergraduate students and can be used to introduce them to basic concepts in animal physiology and in biological statistics.

Movements and biological statistics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations from the St. Lawrence and Ottawa River system, Quebec

Our objective was to compare movements and biological statistics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations from two fluvial lakes on the St. Lawrence River, Lac Saint-Louis and Lac Saint-Pierre, which are main commercial fishing sectors, and from Lac des Deux Montagnes on the Ottawa River. Sturgeon can move freely among these three lakes. Lac des Deux Montagnes sturgeon differ from the other groups by their higher degree of sedentariness, slower growth, and lower condition factor. Lac Saint-Louis and Lac Saint-Pierre sturgeon are also sedentary, but some movement between the two lakes was observed. Sturgeon tagged on the Rivière des Prairies and Rivière L'Assomption spawning grounds, located in the central part of the study area, and also on pre- and post-spawning concentration sites, were recaptured throughout the St. Lawrence River, from Lac Saint-Louis to Lac Saint-Pierre. Length, weight, and age composition of the commercial catch, growth, and total mortality varied between Lac Saint-Louis and Lac Saint-Pierre. Higher commercial exploitation rates in the latter could be responsible for some differences. The management implications of these results are discussed.

Estimating Prey Preference by Predators: Uses of Various Indices, and a Proposal of Another Based on χ2

A really useful prey-selection index should be statistically testable. A 2 × 2 contingency table formulation provides a simple way to test the significance of any degree of selection at any sample size. An index ranging from −1 to +1, and zero-valued for no selection, can be simply derived from the chi-square formulation. Some conflicting usages in biological statistics texts are discussed, as well as the usefulness and limitations of other commonly used indices.Key words: selection, index, chi-square, exact test, prey